₦airaland Forum

Thanks for the info Maedan (and the pun) 

Silly spamguard thingy.

I knew that something was wrong when my third attempt at posting part 29 failed (probably adding to my list of ‘spaming’ offences), but I had no idea why.

It’s not comforting to know that the forumbot regards my story as spam.

In any case, I better end my rant here, I’ve reached my five lines 

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Well, I can see that one

I'll repost the last part of the story.

Hmmm ,

I can't see my posts either. 

Testing, testing

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[B]28  -  Companion[/B]


?, 2383


He is naked. He had been for some time. He sometimes found himself trying to remember what it felt like to have fabric on his body. How long had it been?

Seth rolls onto his back, looking up at the dull, orange globes. He found that if he closed his eyes and then opened them, just slightly … they looked like stars. Orange stars in a dark sky.

Soon, it would be light, and time for another game.

…

?, 2383


Seth wakes to the sound of laughter and voices …

“… some interesting hobbies.”

He opens his eyes a little, looking up at the ceiling. There is white light in the room.

… the merc’s voice …

“Come on, De’Zann. Don’t pretend that you care what we use them for.”

… a voice Seth hasn’t heard before … a low, hiss of a voice …

“Of course not. I’m just happy for your business … and the rent.”

… more laughter … the white light fades …

He closes his eyes. The stimulants made it difficult to sleep, but they also dulled the pain.

…

?, 2383


Seth leans against the wall, exhausted by the latest game. His good hand shakes as he brings the bowl of water to his lips. The merc had untied his hands some time ago. His hands were free, though his left hand was useless. No chance of escape or retaliation now. His feet are swollen, bruised, and broken.

He closes his eyes, trying desperately to see Jullian, to see her pretty face. He sees only darkness. He was starting to forget. It felt like he’d been living in the darkness and pain for an eternity, and for all he knew, another eternity awaited.

Seth turns his head, looking toward the dark trench. Lately, he’d thought about ending it himself. He could drag himself to the ledge and drop, headfirst. It was only about five feet down, but if he landed on his head, he might break his neck. He had a clone, ready and waiting.

He lets his chin fall to his chest and closes his eyes. He was afraid. As terrifying as the darkness and the games were, he was more frightened of death.

…

?, 2383


He lies on his back, looking up at the dull, orange stars. He hears a low, shuffling sound, and turns his head. His naked companion sits against the wall, looking at him.

Seth sits up and uses his good hand to drag himself back to the wall. He moves slowly. Although the pain had become routine now, simply part of him, he tries not to agitate his broken feet any more than necessary. He leans back against the wall, only a few inches from his companion.

The man’s eyes haven’t moved. He stares at the floor where Seth had been laying. Seth looks at him, feeling a mix of emotions. This man had saved his life and, at the same time, by firing the tazer, this man was responsible for the merc’s ultimate revenge, the darkness, and the pain.

Seth swallows, finding his voice “Why?”

The man’s head turns. The two dark slits that are his eyes, blink slowly.

Seth takes a breath and raises his voice. “WHY?”

The man’s lips curl up, slowly, into a grotesque smile. A deep cut opens on his lower lip, sending a stream of blood over his swollen chin. His voice is dry. “I was keeping you pure. [I]I had to keep you pure[/I].”

Seth stares at the bloody smile. Pure. A name escapes his lips, even before he remembers another, smiling face. “[I]Carry[/I].”

The man’s eyes widen, revealing two dark orbs, his pupils, dilated by the drugs. He seems to look past Seth, to look through him. “A great, great honor for one. To serve her. To protect someone so important. To keep them [I]pure[/I].”

He stares, quiet for a few moments. His focus returns to Seth and the bloody smile fades. He tilts his head to the side, causing the dark stream flowing over his chin to branch out and change direction. “Where are they? Where are my brothers and sisters?”

He turns from Seth, looking out into the darkness. “She hasn’t come for us, come to save us, come to keep us [I]pure[/I].” A tear falls from one of his dark orbs, crossing his cheek to join the red stream. “Why?”

The man’s head slumps forward. His body shakes as he moans softly. Across the room, a faint, white light grows brighter.

Very nice 

Your dialogue is dark and straight forward, but it manages to conjure up images and situations equally as disturbing.  A well crafted ‘theatre of the mind’.

[B]27  -  Games[/B]


April ??, 2383


…

[I]he’s making love with Jullian … it’s wonderful … her purple hair sparkles, like diamonds … he smells fresh pizza …

a pleasant, female voice comes from a vid-screen in the room … ‘ … and the CMG began the most challenging engineering project attempted by man … a permanent colony on the fiery surface of Pegasi 51 ,  planning had started by the year , ’

he touches Jullian’s nose and sits up on the bed … he looks toward the window … solid, gray concrete blocks the view …he hears voices, coming from another room …

“I’m sorry, I … they’re gone. The apartment on P51, someone searched it thoroughly and found the rest of the records. They’re gone.”

“But, how Naomi?”

he looks back to Jullian … he sees the terror in her face … she stares at the room’s door … a bright, white light …[/I]

…

Seth opens his eyes, blinking as a bright light shines into them …

Strong hands pull him up, into a sit. His head slumps forward. A strong hand grabs his hair, pulling his head back up. A small, white square, floats in front of him. He tries to focus his eyes as they adjust to the bright light. It’s a small piece of paper.

The merc’s voice comes from close behind him. “Alright Dumb-ass. Who’s this?”

There are lines on the paper. Seth tries to focus.

The merc gives his hair a yank. “It was in your jacket. Who is this?”

The lines sharpen; becoming words. He recognizes the note …

-------------------
[B]CARRY MATTICE
54821-548-6557[/B]

[I]Dinner at seven
Jullian[/I]
-------------------

Seth stares at the note for a moment, and gives a raspy reply “Carry … an old family friend.”

“Not her. Who’s Jullian?”

Seth closes his eyes, silent. He sees Jullian’s pretty face. Whatever happened to him, Jullian had to stay safe. The merc releases his hair and reaches down, taking hold of his twisted thumb, and squeezing.

Seth cries out “She’s a friend! From school.”

The merc releases his thumb and laughs “I’m sure you’ll tell us all about her when we play our next game.”

Seth’s head slumps forward.

…

April ??, 2383


Seth gulps the cold water. It hits his dry throat and he chokes, spewing water … hitting the merc, square in the face. He stares at the merc, not breathing.

The merc blinks, wiping the water from his face with the back of a hand. He smiles “Dumb-ass.”

The merc brings the bowl of water back to Seth’s lips. He drinks eagerly.

“You’re not gonna starve to death for at least a couple of weeks.” The merc chuckles “We don’t want you dying of thirst, spoiling all our fun.”

…

April ??, 2383


There had been more drugs, but not sedatives. He and his companion had been given stimulants in an effort to keep them alert during the games. The robed man sits against a nearby bench. His neck is bent back, his head resting on the seat.

Seth sits against the wall, shivering. He closes his eyes, trying to stop his teeth from chattering. How many days? How many drugs? How many games had they played? He wishes it would end. He wishes that they would finish it.

He hears a voice as dry as sand …

“Why are you so important?”

Seth looks over at the man. He had often heard his companion’s screams, but he was hearing his voice for the first time.

The man is looking at him, his eyes, two dark slits in his swollen face. His lips barely part as he speaks again “Why you?” The man’s head falls back to the bench, silent, his eyes closed.

Seth swallows, finding his voice “… What?”

He waits for a reply … but none comes.

[B]26  -  Darkness[/B]


April 20, 2383


The robed man looks at Seth, his swollen eyes, widening, with a flash of recognition.

Seth looks at the man. He’s never seen him before.

The merc shouts again “GET UP!”

The man’s face is cut and bruised. He stands slowly, wincing with pain, revealing that he has other, unseen injuries.

Seth blinks as he sees the dirty badge, hanging from the man’s robe … Guardians of Mankind.

The merc turns to Seth “Well Dumb-ass? Aren’t you gonna to say hello? He hasn’t even told us his name, [I]yet[/I].”

Seth looks at the merc. His mouth and throat are bone-dry. He manages a raspy reply. “I … I don’t know him.”

The merc steps close to Seth, looking at the floor and shaking his head. Suddenly, he brings his head up and swings his right arm in a wide arc, hitting Seth’s face with the back of his hand.

Seth stumbles, falling backward. He lands hard on his hands, tied behind him, barely avoiding cracking the back of his head on the hard tile floor. Pain shoots up his left arm as his thumb is bent to a strange angle.

The merc walks to Seth’s side, shining his light down into his face “You just made this a lot worse for yourself, Dumb-ass.” He glances at his friends, standing by the passage “We’re going to have something to eat” he gives Seth a toothy grin, “… and drink. Then we’ll be back for some fun. We’ll play the name game.”

The merc turns, walking to the passage. His laughter echoes through the room and his friends join in. They walk to the corner, disappearing around it. The white light fades. Shortly after the sound of whining, metal hinges, it disappears completely.

Seth sits up, trying to block the throbbing pain, coming from his left hand. The room’s corner is dark again, but he can hear the ragged breaths of the man in the robe. He speaks to the darkness. “Who are you?”

… silence … and ragged breaths …

Seth’s voice grows more desperate “Do you know me? Why did you tazer the merc? Why did you help me?”

… silence …

“How long have you been here?”

… silence … then, the sound of the man collapsing to the floor …

Seth lets his chin drop to his chest. He closes his eyes. He’s desperately thirsty. His shoulders ache. The swelling in his left hand has caused the bonds around his wrists to tighten, cutting off the circulation in his right. He leans over slowly, lying on his side. He was so tired. He would sleep for a while … No!

He sits up quickly, shaking his head, trying to clear the last of the sedative’s effects. The mercs would return soon. If he had any chance of escape, it would have to be now, before he was too weak, or hurt.

Seth stands and walks into the darkness toward the, now unseen, passage. After each step, he stops and raises a foot, extending it in front of him and moving it side to side, feeling for obstacles. He finds the wall, and then, the passage. He follows it. Reaching another wall, he turns the corner, heading in the direction of the merc’s exit route.

Seth stops after a few steps. He listens, trying to hear over his own, rapid breaths.

… silence …

He moves on, stopping again as his probing foot makes contact with something. He turns around, walking backwards, slowly. He almost cries out, as his swollen hand makes contact with something hard and metallic.

Seth waits for the wave of pain to pass. He explores with his other hand ,  vertical metal bars. He remembers the sound of the dry hinges.

He puts his back to the wall, near the bars, and slides along it slowly, hoping to feel a switch or panel of some sort, but there’s nothing. He moves to the other side. Nothing there either. He can’t get the gate open. It’s a dead-end.

He heads back along the corridor, toward the dull, orange glow. There are no other exits from the room he woke up in. He only knows of one other escape route … and he doesn’t care for it at all.

…

Seth stands by the wall, looking over the ledge and into the darkness.

He waits for a wave of dizziness to pass, and turns from the ledge. He bends his legs, coming to his knees and then forward, onto his belly, his cheek resting on the cold, tile floor. Using his legs and wriggling his body, he pulls himself back, toward the ledge.

His feet, and then his legs, dangle into the darkness. The metal he had seen looked to be only five or six feet below. He hopes that he won’t have a broken ankle to add to his broken thumb.

Seth takes a deep breath and slides back, dropping down …

His feet make contact after only a short drop. He falls back, landing hard on his bottom, but sparing his injured hand. His legs rest across a raised rail. He feels it with his foot … cold metal. He slides back, making contact with something. He explores with his right hand … another metal rail.

Seth blinks in the darkness, suddenly realizing where he was. He had seen vids of old New York, during the construction of the new, New York. Electric trains used to run beneath the city. He was in an old transit station, and still in New York.

Seth’s pulse quickens. There would be train tunnels. Traveling along them in the dark would be reckless and dangerous, but anything was better than facing the merc again. He takes a breath, readying himself …

… the whine of metal hinges in the distance …

Seth stands quickly, glancing right and left in the darkness. He would pick a direction and run into the tunnel, run as fast as he could. No ,  the mercs were too close. He could already see a dull white light in the room above him. He wouldn’t have a chance. He’d have to wait. Wait for another opportunity.

Seth moves to the ledge, his chin just above it. He bends his legs and makes a feeble attempt at a jump. He can’t get out.

He sits down in the trench, shaking, and waiting, as the footsteps grow close and the white light brightens. He takes advantage of the light, looking left and right along the trench. His heart sinks …

Solid, gray concrete both ways. The tunnels had been walled up.

The merc shines his light down and smiles. Without a word, he jumps into the trench, leans down, and grabs Seth under one arm. He pulls him up, takes hold of a leg with his free hand, and throws him, up onto the ledge.

Seth lies on his stomach, the wind knocked from him. He looks across the room and sees the robed man, being dragged from the corner by one of the other mercs.

…

The name game begins.

Seth finds that the rules are simple … and that they all involve pain.

[B]25  -  Reunion[/B]


April 20, 2383


…

[I]he presses his hands to the glass … the red landscape beyond, shimmers through the heat … he looks at his reflection and sees two figures, standing behind him … Tristan and Jullian …

tiny cracks appear in the thick glass, working their way out from his hands … they spread quickly, in all directions, creating an intricate web …

the window explodes outwards … tiny shards of glass glisten like red diamonds as they fly out into the searing hot sky … a searing, hot wind blows past him …

he turns from the window and sees his mother, standing on the steps … a worried smile comes to her face and a hot, blue wind engulfs her …[/I]

…

Seth opens his eyes and sits up quickly.

He can’t see. A wave of dizziness causes him to fall back again. He feels a lump under his back. He realizes that the lump is his hands. He can’t move them. He rolls onto his side, his head resting on a hard floor. He closes his eyes, trying to concentrate, trying to clear the fog from his head …

…

[I]he’s flying through hot, blue air … he looks down … rivers of lava crisscross in an intricate web … he looks up at dark clouds … a loud rumble … heavy rain starts to fall … he spreads his arms wider, the cold rain, cooling him …

a loud, hissing sound comes from below … he looks down … steam rises from the lava rivers as the cold rain hits them … the steam becomes a thick, damp fog …he flies through it, blinking the rain from his eyes …

the air cools as the fog clears … there are tall, gray buildings in the distance …[/I]

…

Seth opens his eyes, looking across the tops of gray buildings, dark streets crisscrossing around them …

No … he blinks, his eyes focusing. They’re tiles, a dirty, tile floor. His eyes start to slip shut again, but a strong, sour smell brings him back.

Seth sits up slowly in the semi-darkness. He looks at the floor. The pizza he ate at Jullian’s lays in a small pile, the after effects of the sedative.

His hands are tied behind him. His legs are free and he uses them to push himself, sliding along the floor until his back makes contact with a tiled wall. He leans his head back against the dirty tiles, breathing deeply. The air is damp and stale. The only sound is a soft hum from above.

Seth looks up. Large glass globes hang from the tiled ceiling of the large room, perhaps forty in all. Six of them glow with a dull, orange light, providing the room’s only illumination.

He looks across the room. The dirty tile floor stretches into the darkness. To his left he can see a tiled wall in the distance. Low benches run along it as far as he can see. To his right, the tiled floor stretches for about twenty feet … and falls off into darkness.

Seth stands slowly. For the first time, he realizes that his feet are bare. The cold tiles send a shiver up through his, already shaking, legs. He leans back against the wall, and slides along it slowly, moving toward the drop.

He stops about three feet short and looks down, over the ledge. The room’s dim light doesn’t penetrate the darkness below. He looks along the ledge and catches a glint of orange, below.

Seth pushes himself from the wall and walks along the ledge, looking down. The dim light, from the globes above, is reflected in something … something like a long strip of metal. It doesn’t look very far down, perhaps five or six feet below the ledge.

… laughter echoes from somewhere far off …

Seth takes a quick breath. He turns, walking back along the ledge to the wall. He stands with his back against it, listening.

… heavy footsteps on tile floor …

Seth looks across the room. A spot of white light appears, slowly growing brighter.

… the loud, protesting whine of dry, metal hinges …

As the light gets closer, Seth can see a wide passage on the far side of the room. It travels a short distance before turning left. Three large figures come around the corner, carrying lights. He recognizes the merc in the lead.

He glances at the ledge. He had to get away. Anything but this. He would jump into the darkness …

“Hey, Dumb-ass! Good to see you’re awake.”

He can’t make his legs move …

The merc approaches Seth, smiling. His two friends stay by the passage. “You should’a held onto that.” he shines his light on the remains of the pizza, “You won’t be seeing any more food for a [I]long[/I] time.”

Seth closes his eyes, feeling helpless and hopeless. He starts to slide, slowly, down the wall.

The merc looks down at him “Still sleepy? Don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of time. We’re going to have some fun, but we’ll wait a while. I want you wide awake so that you can [I]appreciate[/I] it.”

The merc’s laughter is echoed by his friends.

“Get up! Time for your happy reunion.”

A large hand takes hold of Seth’s bruised arm, pulling him back to his feet. The words the merc spoke to him in the rain come back to him … [I]we already have your friend[/I].

The merc pulls him toward the back of the room. “You’ve probably been missing your dumb-ass friend that tazered me.” He shines his light into a dark corner. A hooded figure wearing a dirty robe, lays curled up beside a bench.

The merc releases Seth’s arm and moves to the crumpled form, giving it a kick and shouting. “HEY!”

The figure stirs, sitting up slowly, and looking toward Seth.

maedan,

I saw your previous comments and I was going to respond once I had the first few chapters posted. Then, your comments vanished and figured you’d lost interest.
In any case, I’m happy that you’re enjoying the story. 

I haven’t read a lot of SF, but I’ve seen SF movies and played online SF games. The online games were my inspiration for the setting of the story and I’m taking it from there.

bluespice,

Thanks.

I’ll try not to disappoint. 

I’ll try to have the next chapter ready tomorrow.
These are not good times for Seth.

[B]24  -  Down Times[/B]


April 20, 2383


Seth opens his mouth to speak, but he finds that he can’t. He feels like the air has been sucked from him.

After a short silence, Tristan speaks again. “Seth, I’m sorry. I was planning to wait to speak to you in person, but someone has , ” she pauses, “I can’t talk to you this way. Can you meet with me?”

He stares into her blue eyes.

“Seth?”

He swallows, finding his voice. “Yes Tristan. My parents …”

“Come to Pegasi 51. I’m going to give you the apartment number and code. [I]Don’t[/I] write them down. You’ll have to remember them, alright?”

He nods. “Yes.”

Tristan recites the number and code, slowly, repeating them twice.

“Hurry, Seth. Please.”

The vid-screen’s strange glow disappears, taking Tristan’s image with it. The room darkens. Only the dim street light from below, coming through the rain-streaked window, remains.

Seth sits, looking at the dark screen, feeling shaken. He closes his eyes, repeating the apartment number and code in his mind … and jumps as Jax lets out a loud snore.

He goes into the bathroom. Turning on the light, he looks into the mirror. It was 3am. He’d had less than three hours sleep and his eyes showed it. He leans to the sink, splashing cold water on his face. The late hour of Tristan’s request to meet with him doesn’t cross his mind. His thoughts are filled with an apartment number, a code, and Tristan’s words … [I]they aren’t dead, they’re flying[/I].

He leaves the bathroom and goes to the closet, putting on his clothes.  He pulls on his jacket and looks back at the dark vid-screen. How did Tristan get through without him accepting the call? And the image, it was different somehow. He pushes the questions from his mind. He’d know soon enough.

Seth opens the door and steps out into the quiet hallway, silently repeating the apartment number and code. He glances at the symbol of the Blood Creed as he approaches the main doors. Looking through them, and the heavy rain, he scans the wet street.

Seth pulls up his jacket collar and steps out, into the cold rain. It falls hard and fast, masking the sounds of the night with a dull roar. He walks quickly.

He had seen Tristan on Pegasi. It made sense that she had an apartment there.  He remembers his first visit, looking out the window at the volcanoes and lava flows. He thinks of his mother … [I]they aren’t dead, they’re flying[/I].

Seth rounds a corner and looks ahead to the gate in the distance. Three large silhouettes stand nearby, their details, lost in the heavy rain. He slows his pace, stepping closer to the wall and into the shadows as he approaches.

A sudden flash of lightening reveals the blue uniforms. They are LED. He thinks of his father … [I]they aren’t dead, they’re flying[/I].

Seth steps from the shadows, walking faster and breathing easier.

Another flash of lightening … a flash of red to his left …

Seth opens his mouth, crying out. “HE …”

He finds that he can’t breathe. A large hand is clamped over his nose and mouth from behind, a large arm, clamped around his arms and chest.

The merc steps from the shadows, standing in front of him and glaring down. His right arm makes a short, piston like motion as he brings his fist to Seth’s stomach.

Seth gasps for breath. He stares past the merc, toward the LED in the distance, his vision blurring. They don’t move. They didn’t see. They didn’t hear.

The merc motions with his head and Seth is dragged backwards, into the shadows. The hand on his face releases its grip enough for him to take in ragged breaths. He prays for another lightening flash … maybe the LED will see. His hopes disappear as he’s dragged around the corner.

Seth blinks the rain from his eyes. He’s still held tight by the man behind him. The merc leans down, bringing his face a few inches from his. Seth tries to focus. The merc’s eyes burn into his. Seth doesn’t see hatred in them now, he sees [I]excitement[/I].

“Nice to see you again dumb ass. I was going to kill you, but now, I just don’t think that’s enough.” The merc gives Seth a toothy grin. “You’re going to spend some time with us.” He pulls something from his pocket.

Seth can’t move his head. He looks down, straining his eyes to see. He catches a glimpse of a gun. No… it’s an auto-syringe.

“Oh yeah, we already have your friend. You can look forward to your happy reunion.”

Seth feels a light pressure on his leg. His world fades into heavy rain … and darkness.

Yup, I’m writing it.

I wrote the first fifteen chapters, some time ago. A few weeks ago, I found the old files on my computer and decided to continue and (hopefully) finish it.

Next chapter is coming up 

[B]23  -  Flying[/B]


April 19, 2383


Jullian looks at the blank vid-screen. “I’m not surprised that Carry figured I gave you her number.”

Seth blinks. “You’re not?”

Her voice is flat. “My parents are Guardians. They keep an eye on me. Don’t worry about it, Seth.” She turns to him and smiles. “You needed to get in touch with Carry and I wanted to help you.”

He leans over and their lips meet in a slow kiss. “You know,” Seth licks his lips, “sushi and pizza are an interesting combination.”

She giggles, giving his belly a soft poke. “So, why was Carry so anxious to see you?”

“Well, it was kind of a strange meeting.”

Jullian laughs. “I’m not surprised. It’s Carry.” She grows silent as she sees Seth’s expression turn serious.

“She wanted my help. Something to do with Dolly Incorporated.”

She gives him a puzzled look.

“I told you that my parents are dead. They were both killed in cloning accidents.”

Her eyes show her disbelief “Both of them?”

He nods. “Yes. What are the odds?”

“What’s it about Seth? Are you getting involved?”

“No. I have to concentrate on my career, and something else has come up that I have to deal with ,  somehow.” He rubs his bruised arm, unaware he’s doing it.

Jullian’s looks at his arm and her eyes widen, “The mercenary?”

He sighs. “He’s after me, all because I bumped into him at the mall. He knows that I live in the residence building, but he doesn’t know which room. I’m going to the LED to file a report tomorrow morning.”

Jullian frowns, shaking her head. “Seth, this is really serious. The mercenaries …” She trails off, reaching to give him a tight hug.

He wraps his arms around her. “I know.”

Her voice comes in a whisper “[I]Down times[/I].”

They embrace in silence for a few moments before Jullian pulls away, urgency in her voice. “Stay here Seth. Move in with me until it’s over.”

He shakes his head. “I don’t want to put you in any danger.”

She puts a hand on his cheek. “Seth, he knows where you live. Please.”

Seth hesitates, but the look in Jullian’s eyes washes away his concerns. “Alright Jullian, you’re right.”

She sighs with relief, pulling him into another hug.

He gives her a squeeze. “I’ll get my things together after I visit the LED, first thing tomorrow morning.”

She kisses his cheek. “Stay with me tonight, and you can leave from here in the morning.”

Seth thinks about his mother’s papers, and the ever-celebrating, unpredictable Jax. “I’m going back to the residence tonight. I’ll be back tomorrow, before you have to leave for work.”

Jullian looks disappointed “Oh … alright. Be careful, okay?”

He smiles. “I will, and, um,  I don’t have to leave for an hour or so.”

She gives him a mischievous grin.

…


April 20, 2383


Seth struggles, trying to sleep.

He lies in bed, staring at the ceiling of the residence room. His mind buzzes with thoughts of Carry’s strange request, the Blood Creed, and the new prospect of moving in with Jullian.

When he finally finds sleep, he dreams …

…

[I]he’s walking along a corridor … he looks up at the stars, bright and white … he follows the corridor as it turns to the left … he smells paper … the corridor walls are high stacks of papers … he follows the paper corridor as it turns to the left …

“Seth”

he hears Jullian’s voice, calling to him softly … he looks up at the stars … he walks quickly, following the paper corridor as it turns to the left …

“Seth”

he runs, following the paper corridor as it turns to the left …

“Seth … are you there?”[/I]

…

Seth wakes, opening his eyes slowly. A strange, blue glow illuminates the room.

“Seth?”

He hears Jullian’s voice, soft, but urgent.

“[I]Seth[/I]!”

No, it wasn’t Jullian, it was …

Seth sits up quickly, recognizing the voice from the past. He looks toward the source of the glow. It was the vid-screen. The screen had a blue glow he’d never seen before, and there was a face … it was Tristan.

He stands from his bed, rubbing his eyes as he walks to the screen.

“Seth. Are you there?”

He glances across the dimly lit room. Jax lies sprawled out on his bed, head back, and mouth open. Seth sits at the vid-screen and smiles at the dark haired image, with sparkling blue eyes ,  like stars.

He speaks quietly. “Hello Tristan. It’s great to see you again.”

She doesn’t return his smile. “Hello Seth. I don’t have much time. Are you alone?”

Seth glances at the unconscious Jax. “Yes.”

Tristan lowers her voice. “Seth, your parents, they aren’t dead, they’re [I]flying[/I].”

[B]22  -  Symbol[/B]


April 19, 2383


The street in front of the student residence building is empty.

Seth walks quickly to the entrance. He felt tired. He’d have a shower before going to Jullian’s place.

…

Seth dries off and puts on fresh clothes. He felt better, and hungry. He was looking forward to seeing Jullian.

So, Carry thought that Tristan was dead, but he’d seen Tristan on Pegasi, and the dead woman in the CMG files wasn’t her. He looks out the window. He’d have to tell Jullian about Carry, somehow knowing that she had given him her number. He wasn’t sure how she would react, but he knew that she wouldn’t be thrilled by the news.

Seth goes to the closet, opening it and checking the high shelf. The roster and envelope are right where he’d left them. He closes the closet door, picks up his jacket, and leaves the room.

The blue-lit corridors are quiet.

He approaches the main doors and his eye is caught by something on the wall ,  a small, crudely painted symbol in a rusty brown. He moves closer and swallows. He’s not sure, but it looks like blood. Was it there when he came in? He might have missed seeing it.

Seth pales as he remembers where he’d seen the symbol before. He’d seen it on a tarnished badge ,  the merc’s badge.

The main door swings open suddenly. Seth turns quickly, his heart racing.

“Hey buddy!” Jax smiles and raises his eyebrows. “What’s the matter with you?”

Seth takes a deep breath. “Hello Jax, I …”

“Holy shit!” Jax stares at the symbol on the wall. “Where did that come from?”

Seth doesn’t like the fear he sees on the normally fearless Jax’s face. “Do you recognize it?”

“Yup, [I]Blood Creed[/I]. Probably the worst mercenary fringe cell there is. Only a few members. Really bloodthirsty.” He lowers his voice. “Somebody around here is in big trouble.”

Seth closes his eyes, shaking his head slowly.

“Wait …” Jax turns to him, looking like he’s had a revelation “That big guy that was asking about you last night ,  what happened?”

Seth sighs. “Apparently, I bumped into him at the mall. The next day, he met up with me when I was walking to the computer labs. I apologized and he decided to shoot me, but he didn’t get the chance. Somebody tazered him and I escaped.”

Jax’s eyes widen. “Whaaa? Who tazered him?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t?”

“No, I don’t.”

Jax looks at the symbol on the wall. “You’re in big trouble buddy. He won’t give up.”

“I know. Tomorrow morning, I’m going to report the incident to the LED. If any Blood Creed members are on a wanted list, I might be able to get him put away for a while at least.”

Jax shakes his head. “That’ll make things worse. The rest of the creed will be after you.”

“Do you have another suggestion?”

Jax shrugs “No, sorry buddy.”

Seth puts a hand on Jax’s shoulder. “Thanks for the information. I’m going to see Jullian. Be careful Jax. He doesn’t know our room number, or he would have visited by now. I don’t think there’s any reason he would go after you but, be careful.”

Jax frowns. “Wish this had happened a few weeks from now. I’d have my badge, and a big gun.”

…

“I met with Carry this afternoon.”

Jullian looks surprised. “You met up? That was quick.”

Seth nods. “Actually, she was quite anxious to see me. It was kind of a strange meeting.”

“Well, I want to hear about it, but first” she smiles, “we eat.” She walks into the small kitchen area.

Seth smiles “Great. I’m starving.”

Jullian returns, carrying a large plate. Seth’s smile vanishes as he sees what’s on it ,  sushi.

Jullian sees his expression and giggles. “Don’t worry. This is for me.” She sits the plate on the low table and returns to the kitchen.

Seth breathes a sigh of relief. A familiar smell brings the smile back to his face.

Jullian sits the pizza and a soda in front of him, giggling again. “Fresh from the mall”, she looks at her sushi, “and my favorite restaurant.”

[B]21  -  Pure[/B]


April 19, 2383


Seth feels the intensity of Carry’s eyes. The large room seems to grow smaller around him. He’s suddenly aware of a strong smell … the smell of paper. His throat feels dry again.

“I’m sorry Carry. I really appreciate the information you gave me about my parents and I understand your concerns about cloning, but I don’t think I’m the right person to help you.”

Her eyes remain locked on his. “You’re wrong, Seth. You are [I]exactly[/I] what I’ve been waiting for. You are [I]pure[/I], and you have a direct connection to Dolly. Your parents died in cloning accidents” she smiles, “and you’ve just turned eighteen.”

He takes the last sip of his soda. The smell of paper, even stronger now, masks its flavor. “I don’t understand.”

“I’m so close, Seth. So close to having everything I need to expose Dolly and the Dolly Factor. I just need a little more time, and a [I]distraction[/I].” She extends an arm, resting her hand on his leg. “You’re eighteen now, old enough to file for legal proceedings. I need you to file a suit against Dolly Incorporated for the wrongful deaths of your parents.”

Seth swallows, the smell of paper growing stronger. He can taste it. He shakes his head. “Carry, I’m sorry, but this is a bad time for me to get involved in this. I’ll be joining the LED in a few days to start my training. Perhaps … perhaps I could get back to you in a few weeks?”

She smiles. “Don’t worry. It won’t take you any time at all.” She opens the file on her lap and pulls an envelope from among the papers inside.

Seth looks at the envelope. His name is written on it.

“Everything is here for you. All the paperwork completed. You simply sign them. I’ll handle everything else.” She holds out the envelope, smiling.

Seth looks at the envelope. The overwhelming smell of paper blurs his senses. He has to get out. He stands quickly, knocking the empty soda glass from the arm of the chair.

“I’m sorry Carry … no.”

He leaves the room and stands in the main room of the penthouse, breathing deeply and feeling light-headed. The smell of paper begins to fade. What had happened to him? He tries to relax.

Carry comes into the room and walks past him. She stands by the vid-screen. “Seth, I can’t understand why you’re reluctant to help me. I’m not sure that you realize how important this is to me, to your parents, to everyone, but it is your choice. Please think about it, there isn’t much time.”

Seth nods, feeling drained by their short meeting. “I will.”

He turns toward the gate, and stops, looking out a circular window at the clear blue water of Aquatica. Three bright stars twinkle in the daytime sky. He turns back to Carry.

“Have you seen Tristan recently?”

She gives him a curious look “Tristan?”

“Yes, I remember her as a friend of my mother’s.”

Carry is quiet for a few moments. “Tristan is dead, Seth. She died shortly after your mother did. She was another victim of Dolly Incorporated, another cloning accident.”

Seth blinks. “I see. Goodbye Carry. Thanks for your time, and the soda.” He moves to the penthouse gate.

“Oh, Seth?”

He turns back to her.

Carry looks at the vid-screen. “The number you reached me at isn’t available through normal channels. Very few people know of it. Where did you get it?”

Seth hesitates. He doesn’t want to bring Jullian into this. His tired mind scrambles for a believable answer.

She looks at him and tilts her head. “Did Jullian give it to you?”

He feels his stomach tighten. How did she know?  “Yes, but I …”

Carry smiles and turns away, looking back to the vid-screen. “That’s alright, Seth.  Go … and stay [I]pure[/I].”

He turns away slowly, and steps into the gate.

[B]20  -  Dolly[/B]


April 19, 2383


Seth is taken off guard by Carry’s words.

Her voice grows soft. “Your parent’s perma-deaths were not [I]accidents[/I], Seth.”

He blinks. “What do you mean?”

Her eyes narrow, “I believe that your mother was in possession of some important documents.”

Seth feels Carry watching him closely. She knows about his mother’s papers? He does his best to disguise the surprise he’s feeling “Documents?”

Carry watches him in silence for a few moments. She stands, smiling. “Would you like something to drink?”

His throat feels dry “Soda, please.”

She turns away and leaves the room.

Seth takes a deep breath, trying to relax. How could she know about his mother’s papers? Maybe she had been closer to his mother than he knew. Until he was sure he could trust her, he wouldn’t offer any information. He hears Carry’s voice, coming from the main room. He can’t make out the words. Who was she talking to?

Carry comes back into the room, a tall drinking glass in her hand. She hands it to Seth and returns to the chair beside his.

Seth takes a sip of the cold soda. He’s surprised again. It’s his favorite flavor.

Carry smiles. “I’ve arranged for us to be left alone for a while, so we can talk.” She leans closer, looking deep into his eyes for a few moments. A look of satisfaction comes to her face and she leans back into her chair, smiling.

Seth blinks.

She looks at him. “I want you to know why your parents died. Only a handful of people know anything about any of this, Seth. I need you to promise me that you won’t repeat anything I’m going to tell you.”

He hesitates, but only for a moment. “You have my promise Ms Mattice … Carry.”

Carry nods slowly. “What do you know about cloning?”

Seth shakes his head, surprised by her question “Very little.”

She smiles “A marvelous thing. A technology that allows us to cheat death …” her smile vanishes, “but, at a terrible cost.”

Carry rises from her chair and moves to a large, cylindrical safe in the far corner of the cluttered room. She enters a code and opens the door. Seth gets a glimpse of the safe’s contents … more paper files.

Carry removes a thick file and closes the safe. She returns to her chair and sits the file on her lap.

Seth looks at the handwriting on the report cover … [I]File 126 - Dolly Incorporated[/I].

Carry looks from the file to Seth, a strange spark of excitement in her eyes. “I’ve done a lot of research, Seth, research I couldn’t do as a member of the CMG. That’s why I came to the Guardians. I’ve been looking into Dolly Incorporated and the development of the cloning process. I’ve uncovered something, something called the Dolly Factor”

Seth thinks of Carry and other Guardians, protesting in front of the tall, dark building in Manhattan.

“To put it simply, cloning involves a complete scan being made at the moment of death, everything from DNA sequencing, to the state of every neuron in the brain. It’s the information contained in that scan that is transferred to the ‘dumb’ clone that’s waiting to become you.”

Seth nods. “It’s an incredible feat of technology.”

“Yes, and when the process was first developed, it was flawless. But there was a problem. Dolly Incorporated is an independent. Their invention would benefit all mankind, and they wanted to see a healthy profit from it. The original process was far too expensive. Only the wealthiest people would be able to afford it.”

She looks down at the file, resting in her lap. “They went back to work and discovered that they could reduce the cost drastically, by lowering the ‘resolution’ of the scanning process. There was a trade-off for this, and it became known as Dolly Factor. The Dolly Factor was the acceptable level of risk that small mistakes could occur in the scanning process, 0.0000000001 percent per data point.”

Seth raises an eyebrow. “That sounds like a very small risk.”

She looks back to him. “It might sound like a small risk, but trillions of data points are read in a scan and thousands of scans are done every day.” Her voice grows quiet. “Mistakes are happening, Seth.”

He considers her words. “Alright, but if someone is scanned and one or two of the trillions of data points are wrong, it wouldn’t hurt you, would it? Would you even know it had happened?”

She shakes her head, slowly. “No, and that’s the most terrible part. Don’t you see, Seth? The cloning process is changing people in ways we can’t detect or predict. Slowly changing, mutating the human gene pool.” She stares past him, into the distance. Her voice is soft. “There are so few of us left.” She grows quiet, staring.

Seth swallows, feeling the awkward silence. “But, what does this have to do with my parents?”

Carry’s eyes focus back on his. “Your father wasn’t a regular LED officer. He was part of the secret service branch. I believe that he came across this same information. Before someone made him quiet, he passed the information to your mother. Then, someone made her quiet.”

Seth stares at her, confused. The papers his mother had left him didn’t seem to have anything to do with this. “Carry, who killed my parents?”

Her eyes narrow, “I don’t know, Seth. Perhaps we can find out. The most important thing is that Dolly Incorporated is stopped. I need your help.”

Seth blinks. “I don’t …”

“Seth …”, again she leans close, looking deep into his eyes, “you’ve never been cloned.”

“No.”

“I can see it in your eyes, the [I]purity[/I].” She smiles, “Don’t you see, Seth, you and I are still [I]pure[/I], part of a dwindling few. We have to stick together. I [I]need[/I] your help.”

[B]19  -  Carry[/B]


April 19, 2383


Jax turns away, throwing his jacket over his shoulder as he heads for the range.

Seth takes a look up and down the street before he enters the residence building. He goes to his room quickly, making sure that the door is locked once he’s inside.

…

Seth looks at the page of copied computer code. A simple data shifting routine? Trinn’s information had only made him more confused. Why was this code so important to his mother? He slips the page of code into the envelope with the other papers. He puts the envelope at the back of the closet shelf and puts the CMG roster book on top.

Seth goes to the vid-screen and sits down. He checks the time ,  almost noon. He pulls a small piece of paper from his pocket and unfolds it.

--------------------
[B]CARRY MATTICE
54821-548-6557[/B]

[I]Dinner at seven
Jullian[/I]
--------------------

Seth touches the screen, and calls Carry’s number. He’s startled as a smiling face appears, almost immediately. It’s Carry. He opens his mouth to speak, but she speaks first.

“Seth Tarot! It’s so good to see you!”

He blinks, surprised that Carry recognizes him, and so quickly. “Hello Ms Mattice. I’m surprised you remember me.”

She smiles, silent.

“I don’t want to impose on you, but I remember you as a friend of my mother, Naomi. I’ve been looking through an old CMG roster book and …”

Carry interrupts him. “Seth, could we meet? Today?”

“Today? Yes.”

She nods, still smiling. “Come to Aquatica. I’ll send you my apartment code. Say, two hours from now?”

“Alright, Ms Mattice. I’ll see you then.”

“Seth …” her smile grows, “Please call me Carry.”

Carry’s image disappears from the screen.

Seth looks over to the window and out at the sky. He hadn’t known what to expect when he contacted Carry but he’d never imagined this. Why was she so quick, and so eager to meet with him?

A tone comes from the screen. It was mail from Carry, the apartment code. He writes the code on the back of Jullian’s note.

Seth stands and picks up his pack. He’d never visited Aquatica. He’d leave now and have time to tour the colony before the meeting.

…

Seth walks down the main hall of the residence building. As he nears the entrance doors, he catches a glimpse of a large figure through the front window. He stops, stepping back. It was the merc, waiting outside, across the street. Why hadn’t he come inside? Maybe Jax hadn’t given him the room number after all, or more likely, given him the wrong one.

The rear doors of the residence were a possible escape, but he’d still end up having to come around to the front of the building to get to the street. He could wait it out, but he didn’t want to miss the meeting with Carry. He’d have to try the rear doors.

Seth turns to head back up the hall. He glances out at the merc and something catches his eye. A group of five men, dressed in blue, coming down the street.

Turning back again, Seth takes a deep breath and moves quickly to the main doors, opens them, and runs down the stairs to the street. He comes along side of the LED patrol, walking close to them and smiling.

“Good afternoon officers.”

One of the officers turns to him as they walk, nodding slightly. “Good afternoon sir.”

Seth keeps pace with the patrol, staying close. He takes a quick glance back at the merc, and wishes he hadn’t. The look of pure hatred in the merc’s eyes sends a shiver through him.

…

Seth looks through the large, floor to ceiling windows. The vast plane of the Aquatica Sea stretches to the horizon. He’d enjoyed his walk around Aquatica, and its stunning views of the watery world outside.

He turns from the window and follows a sign, down a wide corridor to the apartments. He’d timed his tour well. He was only five minutes early for the meeting. He reaches for the terminal, entering Carry’s apartment code.

…

Seth steps from the gate and takes a quick breath, his eyes wide. He’d never been inside a penthouse. The main room was huge. Soft laughter draws his attention.

Carry stands by a doorway to his right, wearing a long, white robe, and smiling. “Do you like it, Seth?”

He nods. “Yes. It’s very … big.”

She turns, walking through the doorway. “Come in here.”

Seth follows Carry into another large room. Shelves of books and paper files line the walls. Stacks of paper files, a few inches to a few feet high, clutter the richly carpeted floor.

She directs him into a large, comfortable chair and takes one beside him. He looks at her badge … rank six.

Carry looks at him, her eyes, locking on his. Her smile fades away. “I wanted to speak to you, Seth. I know why your parents were killed.”

I’m glad you’re enjoying the story.

Better put on your seatbelt - lots of curves and twists ahead 

[B]18  -  Conspiracies[/B]


April 18, 2383


Seth’s pulse quickens.

He and Jullian would wait for a while. Hopefully, the demonstration wouldn’t last much longer. When it was finished, he would approach Carry. Seth watches her, considering his best approach, knowing that Carry wouldn’t recognize him after ten years.

He looks back to Jullian as she stares at the group. He sees the anxiousness and discomfort she’s feeling, reflected in her eyes,  Carry could wait.

“Jullian.”

She looks up at him

Seth smiles “Let’s go to your place.”

Jullian’s eyes brighten.

They walk on, turning a corner and leaving the protesters behind. They walk in silence, each deep in their own thoughts.

…

Seth relaxes on Jullian’s couch, finishing off a soda. Soft music comes from the vid-screen. The CMG roster book sits on the table, open to the page with the image of Seth’s mother.

Jullian comes from the kitchen and settles next to him. “Thank you, Seth.”

He smiles, raising a questioning eyebrow.

“Thank you for not getting me involved with the Guardians.”

Seth shakes his head. “You’ve already been a great help. I don’t want you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

Jullian leans over, resting her head on his arm. “I’ll look up Carry’s number and you can contact her tomorrow.” She turns her face up to look at him. “You were wondering why I smiled when I saw her image in the roster book.”

Seth nods. “I was.”

A small grin comes to her face. “Carry is really well known, within the Guardians. She has a reputation. Some people call her the queen of conspiracies.”

He gives her a curious look “Conspiracies?”

“The Guardian’s are always on the lookout for secret plots being hatched behind the scenes by the GD and the corporations. It’s part of their job to help protect the common man. Carry makes uncovering secret plots her life’s work.”

Seth smiles “I see.”

Jullian looks at the open roster book. “I didn’t know that she used to be with the CMG. Was she a good friend of your mother?”

“I’m not sure. I guess I’ll find out.” He leans down, kissing her soft lips.

Jullian takes his hand, and gives it a squeeze. “Why don’t you stay here tonight?”

“I’d like that a lot.”

They move into the bedroom. Seth takes off his shirt.

Jullian looks at him with concern. “What happened to your arm?” She gently runs a finger over the dark bruising.

Seth looks at the bruise. “I um, had an unplanned meeting with a merc.”

Her eyes grow wide “A [I]mercenary[/I]?”

“Just a misunderstanding. I’m alright.”

“Seth …”

He pulls her into a hug. “Let’s talk about it tomorrow.”

…

April 19, 2383


Seth watches Jullian pull on her boots “Dinner tonight?”

She smiles. “Why don’t we have dinner here? I’ll make something special.”

Seth hesitates …

Jullian giggles. “Don’t worry. No sushi, I promise.”

He smiles. “Alright, sounds great.”

She stands from the couch, and joins him at the apartment’s gate. “Come by around seven. I’ll have dinner ready and you can tell me how things went with Carry.”

…

Seth walks up the steps of the residence building. He feels good. Thoughts of soft lips and purple hair …

The main door opens and Jax emerges. “Hey buddy! What happened to you? Where were you last night?”

“At Jullian’s place.”

Jax shakes his head. “Whoa, has she got a friend, or a sister?”

Seth smiles “I’ll be sure to ask her.”

“Wanna come to the range?”

“No, thanks.”

Jax shrugs. “Okay. See ya.”

Seth turns to the door as Jax speaks from the bottom of the stairs.

“Oh, Seth, somebody was here looking for you when I was coming into the building last night. He said he was an old friend of yours.”

He turns back to Jax “An old friend?” He thinks about Mark.

“Yeah.”, Jax grins. “I was coming home from the club so it’s a bit, um, fuzzy … but I’m pretty sure I told him you weren’t home and gave him our room number. He said he’d be back.”

“What was his name?”

Jax shakes his head. “I don’t think he told me his name, or I don’t remember if he did. Real big guy. Scary looking.”

Seth sighs.

[B]17  -  Trinn[/B]


April 18, 2383


Seth blinks. “You know her?”

Jullian blushes.  “Not well. I’ve spoken to her a couple of times.”

“Why the smile?”

She turns away. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Seth closes the roster book and puts it in his pack.

Jullian turns back to him, her eyes not meeting his.  “I’m sorry Seth.  I don’t want to talk about the Guardians.”

He stands and smiles. “Don’t be sorry. It’s alright.” He pulls her into a hug.

She smiles up at him. “So, where are we going for dinner?”

“We’re going to Manhattan, to a, um … sushi place.”

Jullian raises an eyebrow.

Seth rolls his eyes. “Don’t ask.”

…

The evening is cool and the sky is clear. Seth is surprised by the number of people on the Manhattan streets. He looks up at the stars as they walk.

Jullian rests her head on his arm. “Have you known Trinn for a long time?”

“Not really. He was in a class with me. He studies computer programming. I have some code I want him to look at.”

“Computer code?”

“Yeah, a little side project I’m working on.”

They round a corner. Trinn stands waiting, in front of the restaurant.

…

Seth eats his pizza, not as good as Brooklyn’s, but much better than Tokyo’s.

His mind wanders as Jullian and Trinn discuss the finer points of sushi, between bites. He wonders about the purpose of the computer code, and what Trinn’s reaction will be to it. If Trinn wanted to know where the code came from, he would tell him that he’d found it amongst some old class papers that he was …

“Seth, you have the code you want me to look at?” Trinn wipes his hands, his plate empty. 

“I did.” Seth takes the page of code from his pack and hands it to Trinn.

Trinn looks at the code. Jullian reaches under the table, taking Seth’s hand in hers. He looks at her and smiles, trying to hide the anxiousness he feels.

After only a minute, Trinn hands the page back. “It is a data shifting routine. An advanced algorithm, but nothing very complicated.”

Seth blinks “Data shifting?”

Trinn gives a small nod. “It simply moves a large block of data from one place to another, very quickly.”

Seth looks at the code “Nothing else?”

“No.”

“Alright, thank you Trinn.” Seth folds the page and returns it to his pack.

Trinn stands. “Thank you for dinner. Perhaps we will talk again sometime. I have some work to finish at the lab this evening. I must go.” He turns to Jullian, bowing slightly. “It was nice to meet you Jullian.”

Jullian smiles “I’ll have to take you to my favorite Sushi place sometime.”

Trinn smiles and gives a small nod before turning to leave the crowded restaurant.

Jullian looks to Seth. “Are you okay? You look … disappointed.”

Seth nods. “I’m fine.”

She looks into his eyes. “Well, alright.” She smiles “So, any big plans for tonight?”

“Nope.”

“Want to come to my place? We could watch a vid, or something.” She gives him a mischievous grin.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea.” Seth smiles, getting lost in her eyes for a few moments. “I’ll pay the bill and we’ll go.” 

“Do you want me to get this one, Seth? I know how broke I was when I finished school.”

He takes out his UC card. “I’m alright. I managed to save most of my monthly student allowance.”

Jullian stands from the table “Nice to know that you’re responsible with your money.”

Seth smiles “Well, it had a lot more to do with the fact that I don’t drink alcohol.”

…

Seth takes Jullian’s hand. “Let’s go this way.”

They take a different route back to the gates, enjoying the sites of Manhattan, the clear sky, each other’s company, and the anticipation of the night to follow.

Jullian stops suddenly. Her voice is quiet, almost a whisper “Seth …” She points.

About a dozen robed figures protest on the steps of a dark, towering building. Seth looks at the enormous, chrome lettering above the entrance … Dolly Inc. He turns his attention back to the protesting Guardians. Amongst the angry faces, he catches sight of a smiling one. It was Carry Mattice.

[B]16  -  Records[/B]


April 18, 2383


Seth holds his student card up to the scanner and glances back over his shoulder. No sign of the merc. He enters the lab building as a loud crack of thunder sounds, bringing a heavy rain with it.

He stands in the main foyer, lost in thought. Who tazered the merc? If it had been the LED, they would have stuck around to make an arrest. In the back of his mind he had a suspicion. No, it was more a hope. Maybe it had been Tristan. He hears the main door open behind him, and turns quickly …

A small man enters the lab building. Seth recognizes him. They had been in a mathematics class together. Seth didn’t know Trinn well, but he’d heard that he was a computer wiz that had his sights set on finding a position in the Global Intelligence Service.

Trinn gives a small nod as he walks past. “Seth.” He walks on, toward the computer labs.

“Hello Trinn.” Seth follows.

…

Seth logs into the corporate careers node and finds his way back to the CMG roster archives. He searches and brings up a file …

[B]Carry Mattice

Hire Date    10-10-2365
Dismissal Date    05-08-2374
Reason For Dismissal    Recruited by the Guardians of Mankind[/B]

She had joined the Guardians. Seth brings up her smiling image. He thinks back, remembering seeing her in the mall and on Pegasi. He searches again …

[B]James Ferris

Hire Date    28-02-2366
Dismissal Date   
Reason For Dismissal [/B]

Seth brings up the image. The man looks older and perhaps thinner, but it was the James he remembered. He was still with the CMG. Seth searches …

[B]Telo Varschov

Hire Date    09-05-2369
Dismissal Date    14-07-2373
Reason For Dismissal    Deceased
                                         Cloning facility accident leading to perma-death[/B]

Seth stares at the text for a few moments before bringing up the image. It was the Telo he remembered.

He sits back in the chair. Three cloning facility accidents in such a short period of time ,  his mother, Telo, and someone thought to be Tristan. He couldn’t believe that someone wouldn’t have found it suspicious at the time. Then, there was his father’s accident five years before.

Seth thinks about the envelope in his room. He knows that the contents must be important, that they probably have a connection to his parent’s deaths, might even be the reason for them, but he has no idea how, or why. He knows he needs help, but who can he trust? He had seen Tristan on Pegasi, but had absolutely no idea where to look for her.

He thinks about Mark and his unsuccessful attempt to find his new restaurant. Mark said that he’d known his parents well. Perhaps he had been a member of the CMG or LED at some time in the past.

Seth searches for ‘Mark’, wishing that he knew his last name. A long list of past and present members named Mark appears. One by one, Seth brings up the files and the images, looking for a familiar face …

No luck.

Seth logs into the LED career node. He finds the roster and searches for ‘Mark’. An even longer list appears …

No luck.

He logs off and rubs his eyes. He had a question for Jullian.

Seth stands and stretches. He heads to the lab door. As he passes by Trinn, he glances at the lines of code, scrolling up his screen. He stops by the door and turns back “Trinn?”

Trinn touches the screen and looks up. “Yes?”

“I was wondering if I could ask a favor.”

Trinn looks at him, silent.

“I have some computer code I’d like you to take a look at.”

Trinn glances back at the screen, looking anxious to get back to whatever it was he was doing “Alright, if it will not take too long. May I see it?”

“Oh, no, I don’t have it with me. Maybe this evening?”

Trinn looks suspicious.

Seth smiles “If you’re not busy, I’ll buy you dinner to pay you back for your trouble.
I’ll bring the code and you can look at it at the restaurant.”

Trinn is silent for a few moments, seeming to consider the offer. He nods. “I know a good place. Do you like sushi?”

Seth sighs.

…

Seth runs through the rain, heading back to the residence building. He looks left and right as he runs, peering through the heavy downpour, watching for the merc.

…

Seth takes the envelope from the closet shelf. He sits on his bed and pulls out the papers, separating the pages of computer code from the rest. He flips through them, looking at the small, highlighted sections. He wonders if he’s doing the right thing. He hardly knew Trinn, but perhaps that was a good thing.

He moves to the vid-screen terminal and sits the papers beside it. He lifts a pile of Jax’s clothes from a chair, throwing them onto the small mountain of clothes on Jax’s bed. He takes a seat and starts to copy the code, just the highlighted sections, to a new document. It would take time, but he didn’t want to make any copies of his mother’s papers.

…

Seth walks down the ramp, looking across the mall to the restaurant. He smiles, seeing Jullian cleaning a table.

She smiles as he approaches. “Hi there.” She reaches out, giving him a hug.

Seth gives Jullian a squeeze, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. “Sorry about this morning. I would have invited you in but …”

Jullian steps back, faking a big pout. “Well …” she smiles and winks, “I forgive you, this time.”

Seth smiles “I’m meeting a friend from school for dinner tonight. Would you like to join us?”

“Sure, I’d love to. I’m almost finished my shift.” A customer, standing at the counter, attracts her attention “Gotta go.”

…

Seth sits at a table, watching Jullian as she cleans and serves up hot pizza. He looks out across the mall and up at the ramp, his encounter with the merc, still fresh in his mind. He takes the CMG roster book from his pack.

Jullian comes to the table. “Okay, I’m ready.” She smiles as she sees the book. “Oh, did you find an image of your mom?”

Seth nods. “Yes, but I wanted you to look at someone else first. You said that you have some connection to the Guardians of Mankind.”

Jullian’s expression sours. “Seth, I don’t really …”

“Please Jullian. I think that one of my mother’s old friends is now a GOM member. Could you tell me if you recognize her?”

She looks bothered. “Yes … alright.”

Seth opens the roster and points to the image of the smiling woman. 

Jullian raises an eyebrow, her expression, changing to a smile. “Yes, I know her. That’s Carry.”

[B]15  -  Mercenary[/B]


April 18, 2383


“Hey!”

Seth looks up from the book, startled.

Jax looks down at him, holding up some crumpled papers. “Found em. They were under the bed.” He smiles, looking like he’s expecting congratulations.

Seth blinks. “Go take a shower. You stink.”

“Who was that at the door? I heard her voice. She sounds …” Jax wiggles his eyebrows “nice.”

“That was Jullian. Go take a shower … please.”

Jax shrugs and heads for the bathroom.

Seth looks back to the book and turns the page. He scans the images, not seeing his mother. An image of a blonde man with a thin face catches his eye. He looks at the name below the image … James Ferris. It was one of his mother’s friends, the tall man with the deep voice.

He turns a couple more pages, stopping as he recognizes another face. It was a dark haired man, Telo Varschov, another of his mother’s friends.

Seth turns more pages, stopping again as he sees his mother. He stares at the image, looking into her eyes. Time seems to stand still …

A soft tone comes from the vid-screen … incoming mail.

Seth glances at the screen and turns his attention back to the book. He turns pages. He sees a man, and then a woman who look familiar to him, but their names mean nothing. He turns another page and a memory flashes back to him …

[I]… It’s the day he visited the mall with his mother for the last time. They stand by the marketing terminals. He looks up at the ramp. A woman is standing on it, watching them … and smiling …[/I]

Seth looks at the name under the image of the smiling woman … Carry Mattice.

“So …”

Seth looks up from the book. A clean, naked Jax rummages through the clothing scattered on the floor.

Jax picks up a shirt, smells it, and throws it to a corner of the room. “Who’s Jullian?”

Seth reaches down, picking up a pair of pants lying by his feet, and throws them at Jax. “She works at the restaurant in the Brooklyn mall.”

He turns his attention to the final, few pages of the book. On the last page is an image of the CMG’s president, Jennifer Hamton. She looks cold, and somehow, familiar. He closes the book, looking at the small date printed below the CMG symbol on the cover ,  2372. The year before his mother died.

Jax pulls on a shirt. “Is she hot?”

Seth nods “Yup.”

“Then, I want to meet her.”

Seth sighs, “Yah, well, maybe later. We have to get this place cleaned up.”

Jax looks shocked. “Why? We’re only here for a couple more weeks.” He turns, going to the small kitchen.

Seth shakes his head and looks at the vid-screen. The mail was for him. He touches the screen and enters his password. The message appears. He’s surprised to see the official CMG message header …

…

[B]Mister Tarot,

Our records show that you have recently made network inquiries concerning employment opportunities with the Colonization and Mining Guild.

As a recent GD graduate, the CMG is pleased to offer you unlimited career opportunities.

Benefits include …

Apartment on the colony of your choice
Extensive, Division Based Training
Travel and Exploration
100,000 UC sign-on Bonus

Please do not hesitate to contact us to arrange a personal interview. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have and to help you to discover your place in the CMG.

Lisa Griffin
Supervisor, HR Division.[/B]

…

Seth closes the message and puts the CMG book in his pack. Now that he had some more names, he’d visit the computer lab again.

Jax returns from the kitchen and flops down on his bed. He takes a large bite of a cold pizza slice he’s brought with him. “Wanna come to the practice range, buddy?”

“No, thanks.” Seth starts cleaning up, being careful to only pick up things that are his.

Jax watches, finishing his pizza. He stands and brushes crumbs off his shirt before grabbing up his crumpled registration papers.

“Time for some …” he draws his finger gun, aiming it at Seth, “BANG! BANG!”  He laughs, scooping his jacket up from the floor as he walks to the door.

…

Seth closes his closet. He sits on his bed and looks at the vid-screen … 1:46 PM.

He’d thought about taking Jullian back to the computer lab with him, but it would be hours before she was finished work. He picks up his pack.

…

Seth walks down the front steps of the residence building. The afternoon sky is dark with clouds. Thunder rumbles in the distance. He heads for the lab building, hoping to beat the rain. As he walks, his mind wanders. He doesn’t hear the man approaching from behind …

“Hey! DUMB ASS!”

A large, strong hand grabs Seth’s arm and pulls, turning him around. He looks up at the man, armored and dressed in red. He was big and wore a tarnished silver badge … a mercenary.

The merc glares down at Seth, squeezing his arm. “You have to learn some respect.”

Seth glances up and down the street. They are alone. He gives the merc a puzzled look. “Do I know you?”

The merc’s grip is like steel. He pulls Seth around the corner and backs him into a wall.

“You bumped into me at the mall yesterday. [I]That’s bad[/I].”  He tightens his squeeze on Seth’s arm, “But what’s worse, is that you didn’t say you were sorry.”

Seth winces, his arm going numb. “I’m sorry.”

The merc sneers “Too late.” He brings a gun to Seth’s chest. “You’re d…d….d…”

Seth feels the muscles in his arm tense suddenly, followed by relief as the merc releases his grasp. The merc wobbles, lowering the gun slowly. His eyelids flutter, his lips, pulled back into a toothy grimace.

Seth stares at the merc, blinking as he realizes what had happened ,  the merc had been tazered. He steps around the merc, moving to look around the corner. The street was quiet and empty.

He runs, heading for the lab building.

14  -  Dreams


April 18, 2383


Seth stares at the empty shelf. He feels numb. The envelope is gone.

The hairs on the back of his neck stand straight as a strange, guttural sound comes from somewhere behind him. He spins around, scanning the room and catching sight of some movement by his roommate’s bed.

Seth moves to the bed slowly. There’s something lying between the bed and the wall ,  it’s Jax.

He pulls the bed away from the wall, kneels down, and puts a hand on Jax’s chest “Jax?”

Jax’s glazed eyes flutter open. He makes a short, unsuccessful attempt to raise his head. Seth takes his shoulders, pulling him up into a sit.

Jax turns his head slowly, looking at Seth “Oh … hi … Sittthhh.”

The overwhelming smell of alcohol on Jax’s breath makes Seth’s eyes water “Jax, what happened here?”

Jax’s head tilts to a strange angle. Seeming unable to turn his neck, he turns his body toward the middle of the room. “Thrrr gone … somebody took em …”

Seth looks at his open closet and sighs. “I know. I can’t understand …” he blinks and looks back to Jax. “Wait, what’s gone?”

Jax looks annoyed by the question “My papers! … my papersss r’gone …” He starts to fall backward slowly.

Seth reaches out, grabbing his shoulders and returning him to his sit.  “Jax, what papers?”

Jax narrows his eyes, trying to focus. “My pap’rs for the L’D ,  I looked efery place … can’t find em.”

Seth sighs, shaking his head. “So, you drank too much, you came back to our room, and you tore it apart, looking for your LED registration papers.”

Jax opens his mouth as if to speak. Instead, he lets out a loud, foul burp and slowly starts to fall back. Seth makes no effort to stop him. His head makes a soft ‘thump’ as it hits the floor, a crooked smile on his face

Seth moves back to his closet. He sorts through the nearby items, scattered on the floor. Pushing aside a pile of clothes, he finds his mother’s envelope. He picks it up and opens it. The papers are still inside.

He returns the envelope to the closet shelf and grabs up some of his clothes from the floor, placing them on top. Making his way to his bed, he turns off the lights. He lays back, exhausted by the day’s strange mix of pleasure and stress.

Seth sleeps deeply … and dreams …

…

[I]he’s making love with Jullian … it’s wonderful … her purple hair sparkles like diamonds … he smells fresh pizza …

a pleasant, female voice comes from a vid-screen in the room … ‘ and the CMG began the most challenging engineering project ever attempted by man … a permanent colony on the fiery surface of Pegasi 51 ,  planning had started by the year , ’

he touches Jullian’s nose and sits up on the bed … he looks toward the window, the skyline of New York, the stars above, a fiery red …he hears voices coming from another room …

“Did you pick up the records?”

“Yes.”

“Yesterday? On Pegasi?”

he looks back to Jullian … and wonders why she has blue eyes and dark, black hair …[/I]

…

Seth wakes to the sound of a loud groan, the dream, fading from his mind. He turns his head, looking at the vid-screen… almost 11 am.

He sits up, looking across the cluttered room. Another, softer groan comes from behind Jax’s bed. Seth shakes his head, knowing that he’ll end up doing most of the clean up. He heads for the bathroom to take a shower.

…

Seth buttons his shirt, looking at his closet. A low tone comes from the door console. He walks toward the door. As he gets closer to the small console screen, he sees a flash of purple. He smiles, surprised. It was Jullian.

Seth touches the pad to open the door. Suddenly, he remembers the chaos in the room and Jax’s present state. He reaches quickly, touching the pad again. The door stops moving, having slid open only a few inches. He hears Jullian’s voice …

“Seth?”

He looks at her through the gap in the door “Oh … Hello Jullian.”

She looks at him with suspicion “Um, everything alright?”

Seth nods “Just fine. How did you know my room number?”

“You told me last night.” She gives him a mischievous grin. “Don’t you remember?”

Seth smiles “I must have been distracted.”

“I spoke with my friend this morning and she let me borrow this.” She smiles and holds up a book with a large CMG symbol on the cover. “I’ve got almost an hour before I start work. I was thinking we could take a look through it. Can I come in?”

“Oh … sorry Jullian, I’m a little busy right now, a little tidying up to do.”

She frowns, looking disappointed.

Seth rolls his eyes as a loud groan comes from behind him.

Jullian stands on her toes, trying to see over his shoulder and into the room. “Who’s that?”

“Not to worry, just my roommate. He’s not feeling very well.”

“Well …” she sighs, “alright Seth, here.” She passes the book through the gap in the door.

Seth takes the book. “Thanks Jullian. I’ll see you at the restaurant.”

“Alright.” She raises an eyebrow and turns, walking down the hallway.

Seth touches the pad and turns from the door as it slides shut. He shakes his head and looks at the book.

He sits on his bed and starts turning pages, looking for his mother’s picture. He stops turning, as he sees a familiar face. He looks at the caption below the photo …

[B]Tristan Donnar
11-07-2369[/B]

It’s a woman with blue eyes and dark hair. The same woman he’d seen in the computer lab’s file photo. A pretty woman, but not the Tristan he knew.

13  -  Jullian


April 17, 2383


He looks at the name on the screen, ‘Tristan Donnar’.

Jullian puts a hand on his arm. “Seth?”

Seth speaks to the screen, his voice, sounding distant. “She’s dead … only five days after my mother.” He reaches out slowly, touching the screen to bring up the file photo. The file text is replaced with the face of a blue eyed, dark haired woman. He stares at the screen in silence.

Jullian looks at the screen and speaks softly. “She was very pretty, Seth.”

He turns to her, shaking his head and looking confused. “No …” He turns back to the screen. “That’s not her. That’s not Tristan.”

Jullian smiles “Wrong Tristan. That’s good news, isn’t it?”

Seth stares at the face on the screen. “I … I guess so.” He looks back to Jullian. “But she’s the only Tristan in the roster. Maybe ‘Tristan’ was a nickname, but …” He looks back to the screen, feeling tired.

Jullian slides her hand down his arm, taking his hand in hers. “Sorry you didn’t find her.”

His attention is drawn by the warmth of her hand and he turns to her, seeing the concern in her eyes. Thoughts of Tristan fade as he looks at her pretty face, framed in purple. He opens his mouth, but she speaks first …

“Seth, your parents, are they both gone?”

He blinks, surprised by her question. “Yes.”

A pleasant, female voice fills the room. “[I]The lab will be closing in ten minutes[/I].”

Jullian smiles softly. “Would you walk me home … please?”

…

Seth looks up at the dark, cloudless, Brooklyn sky as they walk. The cool breeze refreshes him. He looks at Jullian and smiles. “Why don’t you live in Brooklyn?”

She takes his hand in hers as they walk. “Well, because I work here, and I like Tokyo more … “, she gives him a mischievous smile, “and I’m close to my favorite sushi place.”

They near the travel gate. A small group stands by the street. Seth doesn’t need to see their badges. He can tell by their dress that they are members of the Guardians of Mankind.

One of the women in the group smiles and waves as they approach. “Jullian.”

Jullian returns the wave. “Hello Sylvian.”

Seth smiles at the woman, expecting Jullian to stop and chat. Instead, he feels her grip on his hand tighten, and her pace quicken. They reach the terminals and buy tickets.

…

A light rain is falling in Tokyo. Halos of colored mist encircle the neon signs and reflect in the wet surface of the street.

Seth takes Jullian’s hand, wondering about her encounter with Sylvian.

She looks up at him, seeming to read his thoughts. “I don’t have anything against Sylvian, or the Guardians.” She shrugs, looking away. “Both my parents are members.” She opens her mouth to speak again and closes it, changing her mind. She looks back to Seth. “I don’t really want to talk about it.”

…

Seth smiles, looking across the neon lit city through the large window. “This is great! What a fantastic view.”

Jullian giggles as she comes from the kitchen, carrying cola’s. “See, I told you that Tokyo was the best.” She hands Seth a cola and sits on the couch, smiling as he joins her.

He takes a sip of cola. “I want an apartment here. I think I’ll join the Tokyo division.”

“Why the police, Seth?”

He hadn’t spoken to anyone about his parents in a very long time. “My father was with the LED. I was three years old when he died, but I don’t remember much about him. He was away a lot. My mother spoke of him, telling me about his career with the force. I think it’s something I’d like to be part of.”

Jullian smiles softly “Fair enough, and your mom?”

“My mother was with the CMG. She died when I was eight.  The GD took me into their care. Then, they took possession of our flat, and everything in it.”

Jullian looks down, nodding slowly, her voice almost a whisper “Down times.”

He takes a quick breath. “I haven’t really thought about my childhood or my parents for some time. Not until … until recently. That’s why I was hoping to find Tristan. I can’t remember my mother’s other friends or co-workers.”

She looks back to him, a smile coming to her face. “Tell you what; I have a friend who’s a third generation CMG member. I know that she’ll have old roster yearbooks. I’ll borrow one. You might recognize someone else.”

He looks into her eyes, surprised by her interest and generosity. “That would be great.”

Jullian sits her cola down on a small table. “You know, Seth, I’ve known you for a while. We haven’t talked a lot, but I always liked you. I would have talked to you more … gotten to know you sooner, but I didn’t think that you’d be …” She gives him an unsure smile. “Thanks for dinner.”

“Well, recently, it’s hasn’t been just the pizza that kept me coming back to the restaurant.”

Jullian blushes slightly, tilting her head. “So … what made you finally ask me out?”

Seth gives her a serious look. “Well, I’ve been thinking about that. To be honest …” He winks. “I think it was the hair.”

Jullian raises an eyebrow and laughs softly.

He brings up a hand, running his fingers through Jullian’s shimmering hair. She moves to him …

Seth’s entire world becomes the warmth of her body and the softness of her lips.

…

April 18, 2383


It’s 3am when Seth gets back to his residence room. He reaches to enter the door code, stops, and stares at the message displayed on the code pad.

The door was already unlocked.

Seth touches the entry pad and the door slides open, the blue light from the hallway making its way into the dark room. He steps into the doorway. A few feet inside, a cabinet drawer lies on the floor, its contents lying around it.

He steps into the room, touching the pad to turn on the lights …

The room has been ransacked. More drawers and their contents scattered on the floor, items pulled down from shelves, clothing thrown about, his closet door, open.

Seth moves to his closet, stepping over the items strewn about. The top shelf is empty.

[B]12  -  Tristan[/B]


April 17, 2383


Seth steps from the travel node and enters the mall. He moves quickly, brushing shoulders with a large man in red as he rushes to the ticket terminal and uses his pass to buy a ticket, back to Pegasi. His heart beats fast.

It was Tristan he’d seen. He was sure of it. He steps into the gate.

…

Seth arrives at the apartment area and runs up the stairs, heading for the travel gates. Memories of his mother and him, making this same run, flash back to him.

Arriving at the gates, he scans the room. No sign of her. She must have been leaving, but he’s certain that she saw him. She was looking right at him. Looking across the room, he sees two CMG members standing by the railing and talking. He walks to them. They end their conversation, looking over as he approaches.

“Excuse me. Have you seen Tristan recently?”

The younger man looks to the older.

The older man looks at Seth, cocking his head slightly and raising an eyebrow “Tristan?”

Seth glances at the man’s badge … rank five. “Yes, Tristan, a CMG member. Dark hair, blue eyes …” He trails off, seeing the blank expression on both men’s faces.

The older man shakes his head. “Don’t know any Tristan. Is she a new member?”

“No.” Seth scans the room. “She was here a few minutes ago.”

“I’ve been with the corporation for eight years. There’s no ‘Tristan’ in the ranks of the CMG.” The man smiles, “Were you looking to do some business?”

Seth looks across the room, to the area where he saw the blue eyed figure “No … no, thanks anyway.”

The younger man grins, giving Seth a strange look. They turn away, returning to their quiet conversation.

…

It’s 6PM when Seth enters the mall and walks down the ramp, heading for the restaurant. He walks past the marketing terminals and smiles as he sees Jullian coming around the corner.

She stops, returning his smile “Hi Seth.”

“Hello Jullian.”

“I’m just finished work. Time for some dinner.” She glances back to the restaurant. “I suppose you’re getting some pizza.”

He looks at Jullian’s pretty face, framed by shimmering, purple hair …

Jullian tilts her head. “Seth?”

He blinks. “That’s what I was planning, yes.”

“Well, it’s not that I mind pizza, but I’m going for the best sushi on Earth.”

Seth makes a face “Raw fish?”

She gives him a playful, scolding look. “Come on now. It’s very tasty, and besides, it’s full of healthy oils and proteins.”

“The supplements take care of that.”

Jullian sighs. “I know, but there’s still nothing like the real thing.” She smiles. “Well, I’ll see you later Seth.”

She walks past him, heading for the ramp.

Seth turns “Jullian?”

She stops, turning back to him.

He smiles “Would you mind some company?” His smile grows as he sees Jullian’s look of surprise.

…

The Tokyo club is quiet. A young couple sits at the bar. Three members of the Asian Coalition sit at a far table, drinking and talking quietly.

Seth watches Jullian as she eats, obviously enjoying her large portion of sushi. He takes another bite of his pizza … not nearly as good as the pizza in Brooklyn.

Jullian finishes, a satisfied smile on her face as she pushes the plate aside. She looks at Seth, looking deep into his eyes in a way that sends a shiver through him. He swallows his pizza quickly and looks away, not really meaning to. He looks back to her as she speaks softly.

“What’s wrong Seth?”

He gives her a questioning look.

“I can see it in your eyes. Are you in some kind of trouble?”

“No. I’m just disappointed. I didn’t have any luck finding Mark. Then, when I was leaving Pegasi, I saw an old friend, a CMG member who was good friends with my mother some years ago. I went back looking, but she was gone. A couple of CMG members I talked to didn’t even know of her.” He shrugs. “I just wanted to see her again.”

Jullian thinks for a moment. “Maybe she left the corporation, or joined another.”

Seth nods slowly.

She smiles. “Why don’t you take a look at the CMG rosters? Can you still use the computers at school?”

Seth’s eyes widen “Of course! The rosters should be available through the careers node.” He stands, looking down at his unfinished pizza. “Well, I’m full.” He smiles at Jullian. “That was nice, Jullian. I’d … I’d like to do it again. I’ll see you at the restaurant tomorrow. I want to get over to the computer lab before they lock up for the night.”

Jullian stands, giving him a warm smile. “Would you mind some company?” She takes his hand, giving it a little squeeze, sending another shiver through him.

…

The lab is almost deserted.

Seth chooses a secluded terminal and sits. Jullian pulls a chair close to him. He logs into the corporate careers node and selects the Colonization and Mining Guild. He enters the ‘contacts’ area and finds the link to the roster archives.

He looks at Jullian. “You know, I would have thought of doing this … eventually.” He gives her a smile.

“I know, Seth. You’re welcome.” She laughs softly.

The CMG’s current roster appears on the screen. The president was listed first. Then, other members in descending rank. Seth calls up a search for ‘Tristan’.

No record is found.

Jullian watches the screen. “Well, she’s not with the CMG anymore.”

Seth nods and returns to the archives, displaying the roster for the previous year … no record found.  He continues the search … 2381, 2380, 2379, 2378, 2377, 2376, 2375, 2374, 2373.

Seth blinks as the roster for 2373 appears. Something about the name at the top, the president of the CMG, Jennifer Hamton. He remembers a whispered name … Jennifer.  He takes a breath and calls up the search.

A record for ‘Tristan’ is found.

Seth shakes his head as he calls up the record “She must have left the CMG the same year that …” He stares at the screen, silent.

Jullian leans close. “Seth?”

He feels sweat on his forehead as he stares at the text …

[B]Hire Date    11-07-2369
Dismissal Date    14-05-2373
Reason For Dismissal    Deceased
                                         Cloning facility accident leading to perma-death[/B]

[B]11 -  Memories[/B]


April 16, 2383


Seth gives his head a shake, knowing that this should mean something to him.

He looks at the document titled ‘Interface’ … an image of a production terminal. An inset image shows the back of the terminal. A small, steel plate with two data terminals is highlighted. Seth had never used the production terminals. The photos brought back memories of the few times he’d spent running around, or hiding behind them as a child, waiting for his mother to finish some business.

Seth blinks as memories of bits of a conversation he overheard long ago come back to him …

…

[I]“I can’t believe it. The interface … it’s so obvious! I’ve seen these hundreds of times.”

“We all have. We’ve just never thought about their purpose …”[/I]

…

Seth lays the document on the bed, beside him. He looks back to the remaining documents and takes a closer look at the schematic. The scaling is shown as ‘size as’. Whatever it is, it’s small, only about five inches square. He stares at the diagram as more distant voices come back to him …

…

[I]“So, a portable, local device is used?”

“These are the schematics.”[/I]

…

Seth is startled by the sudden clarity of memories, long forgotten. He struggles to put names and faces to the voices.

He puts the schematics aside, and scans the pages of computer code, understanding none of it. His gaze wanders to the window. He looks up at the Brooklyn sky and the evening stars. Tristan’s distant voice comes to him …

…

[I]“Two hundred lines of code, hidden within the billions of lines that make up the GD master code. They’d never be noticed. Almost impossible to find, even if you knew what you were looking for.”[/I]

…

More memories were returning. Things he had forgotten, or perhaps, tried to forget. Memories of the few weeks before his mother’s accident …his mother’s fear … unexpected visitors …a tall man with a low voice … running through the Pegasi 51 colony … a smiling woman …and his mother, staring up as she lay by the marketing terminals.

Confused and shaken, he opens the envelope wide, looking inside for something he might have missed… nothing. No note from his mother. No explanations. Why, and why now?

Seth gathers the documents and slides them back into the envelope. He goes to his closet, placing the envelope at the back of a high shelf. He turns off the room lighting and returns to his bed, laying down and looking out the window.

How could he find out more about the documents? They were obviously important to his mother. Even though he’d been traveling around New York and frequenting the Brooklyn mall for the past four years, he’d never even caught a glimpse of any of the CMG members he knew as a child. No help there.

Mark had said that he was a good friend to both his mother and father. Seth sighs, silently cursing himself for not asking Mark where his restaurant was located. He lies back, closing his eyes. Scattered memories fade in and out…

He is still awake, four hours later, when Jax returns, announcing his arrival by falling over a chair … and then, a table.

…

April 17, 2383


Seth smiles as he approaches the restaurant counter and sees Jullian’s hair. The dirty-blonde had become a dark, shimmering purple.

“Hello Jullian.”

Jullian looks up from a stack of disposable plates she’s counting, “Hi Seth.” She notices his stare and smiles. “Well … what do you think?”

He had been attracted to Jullian since he first met her when she’d started working at the restaurant a year ago. She was short, a little ‘plump’, and she had one of the prettiest faces that Seth had ever seen. “I like it …” his smile grows, “I like it a lot.”

Jullian blushes a little. “I’m glad. So … the usual?”

“Not today. Actually, I’m looking for some help. I’m looking for a restaurant. All I know is that it’s off-world and it’s owned by a man named Mark, the man who met me here, yesterday.”

“That older guy? Sorry, I didn’t recognize him.”

Seth smiles. “That’s alright, Jullian. Don’t worry about it.” He turns away, taking a step before Jullian calls him back.

“Seth, wait.” Jullian looks around the restaurant, “Before I got my job here, I applied at just about every off-world restaurant and club. I didn’t recognize that man from yesterday, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t own one of them.” She looks back to Seth “If it would help, I can make you a list of the off-world restaurants and clubs I know.”

He gives her a big smile. “That would be great, Jullian. Thank you.”

…

Seth hadn’t been off Earth since his mother’s death. This day, he had visited six colonies. He had visited eight restaurants and clubs. He had talked to employees and patrons.

No one had heard of Mark.

He walks down the steps, approaching the Pegasi 51 travel terminals, feeling tired and hungry. Using his, soon to expire, student travel pass, he buys a ticket home and steps into the gate. As the beam envelops him, he catches a glimpse of a figure at the far side of the room , a figure with dark hair and sparkling blue eyes.

[B]Part 2

10  -  Mark[/B]


April 16, 2383


Seth looks out the window of the residence room, watching the fast moving clouds as they pass over the high-rises of Brooklyn.

…

Ten years had passed since his mother’s perma-death in the Brooklyn mall. An identity search had revealed that Seth had no living relatives. No one had come to get him. He was taken into the care of the Global Dominion. The Dominion housed, clothed, fed, and schooled him.

…

“We’re out of here buddy!” Jax gives Seth’s head a slap. “Free!”

Seth turns from the window, rubbing the back of his head.

Jax pulls his jacket over his shoulders, like a cape. He crouches down, bringing up an arm, pointing a finger, and raising a thumb. His dark eyes sight down his ‘finger gun’ and he turns slowly, scanning the room.

“Three weeks from now, I join the proud ranks of the Law Enforcement Department. Then it’s …” his finger gun jerks suddenly, “BANG-BANG bad guys!” He stands, laughing.

Seth shakes his head. “God help us … I mean them.”

“Seth, we’re done! Graduated! Time for celebration! Something special! I say Tokyo.” Jax’s dark eyes turn sinister. “Let’s go to Club 69!”

Seth smiles “Sorry Jax. I’m going to the mall.”

Jax gives Seth a blank stare “The mall?”

“It’s Saturday. I go to the mall on Saturdays”

“Yeah, but Seth …” Jax shakes his head. “This is a special occasion! You [I]always[/I] go to the mall on Saturdays.”

“Yes, and you [I]always[/I] go to Club 69 on Saturdays.”

Jax smiles and shrugs. “Okay. See yah buddy.”

…

Seth walks toward the mall’s lower level ramp. A group of four CMG members stand by the entrance to the storage terminal area …

…

It was six years after his mother’s death that Seth had first returned to the mall. He had visited the mall every Saturday since. In all his visits, he had never seen any of his mother’s friends he knew as a child. He had forgotten their faces and names, except for one … Tristan.

Once in a while, he would dream about his mother, he would dream about his father, and he would dream about blue, sparkling eyes in a dark sky.

…

Seth smiles at the young woman behind the restaurant counter. “Hello Jullian.”

She returns his smile. “Hi Seth. The usual?”

“Please.”

Seth takes the pizza and soda to his table. He takes a large bite, smiling as his comfort food does its work. He looks across the mall. Not many people. The mall had grown quiet over the past couple of years. He’d heard that the market in Germany was growing and attracting more customers. His thoughts wander.

Three weeks from now, he’d become a member of the LED, like his father. Some of the stories his mother had told him about his father’s career were still with him.

Seth swallows quickly, suddenly aware that someone is standing behind him. He turns, looking up at a man he recognizes,  the man who used to stand behind the restaurant counter. His eyes open wide with surprise. “Mark?”

Mark takes a seat at the table. “I’m glad you remember me, Seth. I thought my new hair style might fool you.” He chuckles, running a hand over his, almost bald, head.

Seth smiles “Of course I remember you. I’m surprised you remembered me, surprised you recognized me after all this time.”

“Couldn’t miss you Seth.” Mark grins, “You have your mother’s eyes.”

Seth blinks, both surprised and delighted at Mark’s comment. “It’s great to see you again. Where have you been?”

“I left Brooklyn seven years ago. I’m in a place of my own now, off world.” Mark looks across the mall. “I haven’t been back here much.”

“I missed you Mark.” Seth smiles, glancing at his pizza “After all this time, you’re the first person I’ve met who I knew when my mother was alive.”

Mark is quiet, seeming to consider Seth’s words for a few moments. “I knew your mother quite well … and your father.”

Seth blinks.

“According to my calendar, you’re eighteen years old.”

Seth nods. “Two weeks ago.”

“Seth, the day your mother died, you came here. When your mom ordered your pizza, she gave me something, something for you. She told me to give it to you, but not until you’d turned eighteen.”

Seth opens his mouth to speak, but Mark continues …

“I’m happy to honor your mother’s wishes.” Mark reaches inside his heavy jacket, bringing out a thick envelope. He sits it on the table, close to Seth.

Seth looks at the envelope. A name is written in his mother’s handwriting … ‘Seth’. He picks it up, slowly.

Mark leans close, speaking quietly. “You don’t have to open it here.”

“Alright Mark.” Seth puts the envelope in his pack.

“It was good to see you, Seth. I’ve got to get back to my place.” Mark stands, takes a glance around the mall, and walks from the table.

“Good to see you Mark. Thank you.”

Mark doesn’t look back as he heads for the ramp.

…

Seth enters the quiet resident’s room. Jax was out celebrating. He would have the room to himself. He sits on his bed, looking out at the early evening sky, thinking of his mother.

He reaches into his pack, moving the pizza-to-go aside, and bringing out the envelope. He turns it over and runs his finger under the under the adhesive fold, breaking the seal. His mind races with the possibilities of what might be inside.

Seth pulls the bundle of folded papers from the envelope. He unfolds and scans the papers, his expression of expectation, replaced by one of confusion …

Several pages of what looks like computer code with highlighted sections, and schematics of some kind of device.

[B]9  -  Alone[/B]


May 9, 2373


Seth feels a strong set of hands on his shoulders, pulling him away from his mother. His hand slips from hers and he looks back.

“Get back boy. It’s not safe.”

It’s a very large police officer. Seth can’t see his eyes through his dark visor.

“Was that your mother?”

Seth nods, wiping the tears from his eyes.

“Is your father in the mall?”

Seth shakes his head “Nope.”

“Stay right here for a minute.” The large officer signals to another officer, who comes to stand by Seth. He leaves them, going to speak with the four officers that are standing around his mother’s body.

After a short discussion, the large officer returns to Seth’s side. “Are you Seth, Seth Tarot?”

Seth nods.

“Okay Seth.” He reaches to take Seth’s hand. “I need you to come with me. It’s not safe for you here.”

Seth looks back at his mother, wondering how she’ll get to her clone, and wondering how long it will be before he sees her again.

“Don’t worry. We’ll look after your mom.”

The officer leads Seth around the corner and down the ramp to the first floor of the mall. He raises his visor as they walk, revealing a scarred face and large, grey eyes. He smiles down at Seth. “Have you ever been inside LED headquarters?”

Seth shakes his head. He had always wanted to see the place where his father had worked. Through his feelings of shock and sadness, he feels a pinprick of excitement.

As they exit the mall, Seth glances back. His eyes grow wide as he sees a figure in the distance, looking at him … dark hair … sparkling blue eyes, like stars …

Seth’s heart jumps as he sees his mother’s friend. He turns quickly, pulling his hand from the grip of the officer’s, running back into the mall and shouting “Tristan!”

The large officer turns and yells. “Seth!”

Seth runs around a few people and into the first floor. He looks around quickly ,  but she’s gone. He feels tears in his eyes again, and a large hand on his shoulder.

The large officer looks down at him “Seth, who was that?”

Seth looks around, his hopes sinking. She’s gone. He looks up at the officer. “She’s my friend.”

The officer glances up the ramp. “Alright, you’ll see her later. Let’s go, Seth.” They turn back toward the exit. “Promise me you won’t run off like that again.”

Seth blinks and nods.

…

Seth sits back in the oversized and overstuffed chair, his legs sticking straight out, not reaching the end of the seat cushion. He hears muffled voices behind him as he looks around at the office’s walls of shiny glass and metal. A large desk sits in front of him, its console, bright with colored buttons and lights.

The LED building was even better than he’d imagined. Maybe his mother was going to meet him here. Maybe they could take a look around together. He smiles at the thought.

The muffled voices grow quiet and Seth hears boot steps. A lady officer walks into his view. She steps behind the large desk and seems to reconsider, instead, she pulls another chair close to Seth’s, and sits.

“Hello Seth. I’m Officer Lana.” She smiles gently, but her eyes look sad. “Seth, I’m sorry, but there’s been an accident.”

Seth feels like he can’t breathe. He remembers the mall … asking why his father didn’t come back and his mother’s reply … [I]a terrible accident[/I].

Officer Lana leans closer to him and puts a hand on his shoulder. “Your mother won’t be coming back, Seth.”

Seth slumps forward, crying.

The officer stands from her chair and crouches to hug him. “Don’t worry, Seth. The GD will take care of you until someone comes to pick you up.”

…

Seth sits on the bed in his new room. It’s nice and clean and it has a vid-screen … but it doesn’t have any windows.

He looks at the door. His mother and father were gone. Would someone come to get him? Tristan saw him in the mall. She would know what happened to his mother. She was his friend. She would come for him.

He watches the door … waits … and hopes.

[B]8  -  Naomi[/B]


May 9, 2373


Seth steps from the travel node, onto the streets of Brooklyn. He takes his mother’s hand, looking up at her.

She smiles, “You don’t mind if we walk to the mall, instead of taking the gates, do you Seth?”

He shakes his head and smiles back at her “Nope.”

They walk quickly, passing a few police officers and some others Seth doesn’t recognize. He notices his mother, glancing about like she’s looking for someone.

It was a clear night in New York. As they walk, Seth looks up at the sky; taking quick glances ahead to be sure he doesn’t stumble. The stars looked different on other worlds, like Pegasi. He wondered what the stars would look like through the big windows of their new apartment.

…

Seth flies down the ramp, careful to steer around people who were coming up. The mall was crowded. There were lots of shoppers and police officers. At the bottom of the ramp, his mother takes his hand.

She smiles, “Let’s get some pizza.”

They walk past the busy marketing terminals. Seth looks across to the restaurant as they round the corner, and smiles. His favorite table is empty.

“You can sit down for a minute, Seth. I’ll get us some pizza, and then we’re off to our new place, a real adventure for us.” She gives him a wink.

Seth sits at the table, watching his mother as she orders the pizza from Mark at the restaurant counter. His mind races, thinking about pizza, his mother’s friends, his father, his name written in dust on a vid-screen, and his new home with the big windows. He blinks and looks around the mall, wondering how long it would be before he could fly down the ramp again.

His mother comes to the table. “Okay Seth. I have five pizzas to take with us. We’re all set.”

Seth stands from his chair and takes his mother’s hand, smiling up at her. He looks into her eyes. She doesn’t look worried or scared anymore. The wonderful smell of hot pizza comes from her backpack. She gives his hand a little squeeze. They leave the restaurant, and round the corner to the marketing terminals.

They reach the second terminal and his mother stops suddenly, looking toward the ramp.

Seth follows her gaze. Standing on the ramp, looking at them … a smiling woman … his mother’s friend, Carry. For a few moments, his mother stands still and silent.  

Suddenly, she lets go of his hand and turns to him quickly, stepping in front of him. Seth sees the sadness in her eyes. She lunges toward him, her arms out as if she means to grab him up, into a hug.

Instead … she pushes him.

Seth falls backwards, landing on his bum, and slides a ways along the polished floor of the mall, the wind knocked from him. He struggles to catch his breath, looking to his mother, his eyes wide with fear and shock.

She looks at him with sad eyes. “Seth, [I]I’m so s[/I]…”

A bright blue flash of energy explodes against his mother’s back. She closes her eyes and another explodes against her legs. Her eyes open and meet his. Time seems to stand still for a few moments … three more blue flashes … his mother falls to the polished floor.

Seth stands, his eyes fixed on his mother as he walks to her. A pair of arms picks up his mother’s backpack. A pair of legs runs away with it. He kneels by his mother’s side, looking down at her and blinking away hot tears.

There are shouts and shots in the mall, but Seth doesn’t hear them. He looks into his mother’s eyes. She stares up, looking far away … like she’s looking at the stars.

Seth takes his mother’s hand in his, and gives it a little squeeze.

[B]7  -  Lost[/B]


May 9, 2373


Seth touches the screen, bringing up the TV1 vid. He leaves the volume low and sits back on his bed, listening to the conversation in the main room. Tristan had come to visit, and the tall man, James.

His mother’s voice sounds tired and sad …

“I’m sorry, I … they’re gone. The apartment on P51. Someone searched it thoroughly and found the rest of the records. They’re gone.”

[I]Tristan[/I] … “Gone? How Naomi? There was no time to do a search of every apartment on Pegasi, and, as you said, nothing that would link you to it. Unless … maybe someone searched the apartment entry log for that day.”

[I]Naomi[/I] … “No. William made sure that entries to the apartment wouldn’t be logged.”

[I]Tristan[/I] … “Then how …”

[I]Naomi[/I] … “It was Seth.”

Seth blinks, hearing his name, straining his ears to hear his mother’s low voice …

“When we were in the apartment last week, Seth wrote his name in some dust. I didn’t notice it. Somebody else did.”

[I]James[/I] … “You can’t blame yourself for that, Naomi.”

There’s a short silence. Seth feels heaviness in his chest.

[I]Tristan[/I] … “Let me check something. I want to look at the CMG’s master work schedule.”

Seth hears the low tones of the main room’s vid-screen …

[I]Tristan[/I] … “Whoa, May sixth to May eighth.  Pegasi 51 property assessment tour. A team of four CMG members. No names given. They were to tour the P51 apartments to make a quick assessment of condition and value. If the owner wasn’t available, they were authorized to use master key codes for entry. The data was to be submitted to the economics department to update our asset records.”

[I]Naomi[/I] … “So … during their quick assessment of the apartment, they saw Seth’s name.”

[I]Tristan[/I] … “That still doesn’t explain how they knew anything about this in the first place. Sure, Carry saw you on P51 last week, but there’s no way she could know anything about the records.”

[I]Naomi[/I] … “I don’t know, Tristan. I don’t know how they knew.”

[I]James[/I] … “Do you still have the other records here?”

[I]Naomi[/I] … “Yes. The schematics and code reports are important, but without the rest of the records, there’s no proof that the CMG created the device or ever used it. I’m sorry, I’ve let you down. I’ve let … let William down.”

[I]Tristan[/I] … “Quit apologizing Naomi. We have to figure out what to do next.”

[I]James[/I] … “Give us the records, Naomi.”

[I]Tristan[/I] … “No. Wait James. We can’t leave here with the records. Someone might be watching the apartment node. If someone suspects Naomi, they might suspect us. We need … we need a little time to think about this, but not here. Naomi, will you be okay by yourself here, for a couple of hours?”

[I]Naomi[/I] … “Yes, we’ll be alright.”

[I]Tristan[/I] … “We shouldn’t leave together. You go ahead, James. I’ll meet you on TV1.”

[I]James[/I] … “Whatever you think is best, Tristan.”

[I]Naomi[/I] … “Goodbye James, and thank you.”

[I]James[/I] … “Take care Naomi, and don’t blame yourself. You did very well, keeping this secret for so long and bringing it to us. You can’t hold yourself responsible for this, all because of a bit of dust on a vid-screen.”

There is a short silence. Seth hears the ‘snap’ of the travel gate.

More silence, then, Tristan’s voice …

“Vid-screen?”

[I]Naomi[/I] … “[I]No[/I] …”

[I]Tristan[/I] … “Naomi?”

[I]Naomi [/I]… “Seth wrote his name in the dust on the vid-screen in the apartment, but … I didn’t tell anyone that. Tristan, how did James know? Was he one of the four CMG that assessed the apartments?”

[I]Tristan[/I] … “No, not James. I can’t believe it.”

Seth takes a deep breath, his eyes getting wet as he hears his mother crying …

[I]Naomi[/I] … “It’s all gone wrong … [I]so wrong[/I] …”

[I]Tristan[/I] … “Naomi. Naomi! Do you trust me?”

[I]Naomi[/I] … “Yes Tristan, I do.”

[I]Tristan[/I] … “Wait here with Seth. I’m going to get Telo. We’ll come back and take you somewhere safe. Telo has a place. I promise, it won’t be more than half an hour.”

[I]Naomi[/I] … “Alright.”

The travel gate ‘snaps’.

Seth waits. A few minutes pass before his mother appears at his bedroom door. Her eyes are a little red.

She smiles, “Seth, we’re going to live somewhere else for a while.”

His eyes widen …

“A really nice place, bigger than our flat, with big windows, on a colony you’ve never seen. A really nice place that your father bought for us. We have to leave right away, Seth.” She holds out a hand.

Seth jumps from his bed, taking his mother’s hand and looking up at her.

She leans down to kiss his forehead. “It might be a while before we can visit the mall again. We’ll go there first and get some pizza to take with us.”

Seth smiles and nods, feeling confused, excited, and wondering why they aren’t waiting for Tristan to return. He follows his mother, leaving the TV1 vid playing on the screen. She gives his hand a little squeeze as they step into the travel gate.