A New Divide (Science Fiction) (14 page)

              "Whew!"

              "Wow, so . . . are you still thinking about running, feeling a little better about . . . ," she grazed her fingers across my imprinted skin, showing through my tank top, "all of this?"

              "Sweetheart. You have no idea. Let's go."

              We stood up and walked through the clean and shining halls of the Alexandria and we eventually made our way to the bridge where we met the others.

              We entered the bridge and looked out towards the bow, where a sky full of stars was before us. The giant spherical projector still resided about five meters below, in front of a command center deck where Mark and Silas anxiously awaited our arrival.

              Mark saw us enter the bridge, and walked away from the spherical holoscreen projection of the ship's new computer in the center of the room. Victoria entered from behind us and bumped into my shoulder, as she made her way to her chair.
              "Well look who decided to show. Behave yourself on my bridge, punk, or I'll shoot you out of the airlock."
              We then looked at Silas, dressed in uniform, who nodded to me and waved his hands in joy. "What about your dork of a brother? Can I harass him?"
              She nodded as I made my way over to Mark. I felt guilty after the way I had been avoiding him, but he did not seem upset. In fact he seemed overjoyed at my presence.
              "Mark, I want to apologize."
              "No need, Collin, I understand. I am glad you decided to join us on our quest."
              "Wouldn't have it any other way, Commander."

              Mark looked down at his wristwatch, and started again towards the bridge. "Now for the moment of truth. Everybody in their places!"

              All of the soldiers confirmed, and Mark smiled as he turned towards the windshield of the ship and looked out towards the shining planet of Gannon.

              "ALI?"

              "Yes, Commander?"

              "Make the light jump to Arcadia, our great expedition has begun."

              The Alexandria shot through the stars and a strange sense of peace washed over me. I was happy for the first time in almost a year; I was finally beginning my journey. What it meant for me I still did not know. The outcome of this expedition would completely change me. I would see things I wish I could unsee, and I would obtain knowledge that I would, at first, want to forget. However, in time I embraced it, and maybe I even began to believe in Mark's resolve, and the good I could bring to humanity, if any.

              I had to remember what I had told myself, what I had learned inside the Temple of the Void, and I repeated it to myself as Helena grasped my hand. I couldn't afford to forget it. Then we felt the ship jump to light speed.

              "To be great all you have to do, is do something different."

CHAPTER 9 - LET THE GAMES BEGIN

              "Open wide and breathe in the air."

              We had arrived in the GDR sector on the fifth planet from the binary suns, Gannon. I was ecstatic, and struck with complete nostalgia, for the first games of the season were about to begin. It was there in what the citizens of Eden had all considered the greatest city of humanity, Arcadia. The massive city covered over half of the planet, engulfing the surface with a glow of a dim star. From space it looked almost as if the planet had a pulse beat that constantly surged through its surface.

              It was a city that never truly slept, for the fifty billion people that occupied this sprawling metropolis lived high in the towers to deep under the ground. This capital city of the GDR was symbolized by the home of their government, the Arc, the unbelievably massive half arc that extended to the center of the city. It was a half kilometer wide, and easily rose four kilometers above a city that was covered in vast rivers, and overlaid by millions of towering buildings.

              I finally felt at home again. We had arrived in the free world, a democracy where the citizens of Arcadia shared a great passion for the gravball league, despite the fact that its symbolic appeal could not hold the tides of war.

              We walked through the intensely occupied streets towards the stadium, as Mark and Victoria had staged the Alexandria above Arcadia's financial district, and had arrived at the Arc. The tip of the Arc was in the shape of a giant cylinder that dropped down roughly ten stories, and was considered the presidential house of the GDR. It was elegantly sculpted in every way, especially the presidential garden that covered the top of the Arc. They call it "the Balcony," an incredible fixture of the Arc; it had the power to reach, and overlap, all of the radio broadcasts throughout Eden, on every habitable world, and in every house there was.

***

[--]

-The Arc-

"Quite the security they have around here, sir," Victoria said in wonderment, as she took in the view from the long windows that lined the Arc's main elevator shaft.

              "Arcadia is the most heavily guarded place in the universe for a reason, Admiral."

              "They are hiding something, sir."

              Mark smiled slightly at his admiral as the Arc's elevator shot through the massive structure. Mark took great satisfaction from taking in the view of the city, the midday sun glaring off of the millions of surrounding buildings.

              "I couldn't agree more, Victoria. They say that underneath the surface of this world, near the core of the planet, lie the darkest secrets of humanity. That being said, I am sure glad they want us on their side."

              "That's a good sentiment, Commander, but I will always feel threatened by those who wield power far greater than us. What do they say? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer? What a crock of shit, sir."

              Mark put his hand on Victoria's shoulder and smiled. He was amused by her remark. "They also say that the greatest enemy is not the one you see—but the one that you don't."

              "Wise words, Commander."

              "You would do well to remember them, Admiral."

              Victoria simply nodded in agreement to Mark as the elevator door opened to a luxurious lounge room where they were greeted by a very casually dressed GDR president who held a martini in his left hand.

              "Well, well, well. Mark Wyman, put 'er here, old friend," President Harris said while he shook Mark's hand. Harris pressed his hands against Mark's shoulders and let out a relived sigh.

              "You look good, my friend. It's been too long."

              "Always good to see you, David."

              "Is Virgil here with you?"

              "Of course. He's down at the stadium."

              "So what? He didn't want to see one of his oldest friends because he's the leader of a nation now?"

              "Virgil is currently watching over someone, he's preoccupied."

              "So we got you, me, and Virgil. What about the other guy, have you seen any of him lately?" As David asked this, Mark's smile turned to a frown and he responded.

              "I was hoping you've seen him."

              "No. Not since that day over four hundred years ago."

              There was a silence between them and Victoria was struck with confusion.

              "Is he alive you think?" David asked.

              "If he is, he would have tried to contact us by now," Mark said in response.

              "Anyway, let's hear about you. The big shot commander of the Remoran Protectorate now? That's incredible news. I knew you and I would always succeed in our lifelong dreams."

              "Ha, well, I could not have done it without this one standing beside me. I would like you to meet my general, Fleet Admiral Victoria Andrews." Mark then stepped aside to introduce his admiral.

David was intrigued and he proceeded to shake Victoria's hand, promptly kissing her glove. "Ah, the lady admiral, I have heard many great things of you." As he said this Victoria looked down and blushed. She held in the anger she had for the moment and transformed it into a respectful comment back to the president of the second most powerful nation in all of Eden.

              "Thank you, Mr. President."

              "Oh please, no need for formalities here, Admiral. It is a day to enjoy the games."

              "I feel we are slightly overdressed."

              "My lady, you look fantastic, and in the end that is all that matters. Is it not? Now get in here, take a seat. You all must be exhausted, launching your great expedition and all."

              David continued to speak as he led them into the main hall of his prestigious palace. They walked across the cherry-wood floor of the very large circular room, which was heavily guarded by the president's secret service. They walked past a medium-sized pure stone pedestal that stood directly in the center of the foyer, and to an open room off to their left.

              This room was the main living room, and had been covered with couches, holoscreen projectors, and even a kitchen. While they made their way through the presidential quarters, Mark and Victoria were shocked by how casually President Harris presented himself. He surely must have felt comfortable around them. As President Harris led them into the living room, his entire family came around the couches to see him. His two daughters being the most anxious.

              "Daddy! Daddy!"

              "There my little princesses are!" Harris crouched down when his daughters ran up to him. He embraced them in his arms and twirled them around.

              "Daddy, look, we got tigers!"

              The girls showed their father the adorable stuffed tiger dolls that had little jerseys on them. Harris set them down and began to dance in front of them.

              "That's our team, girls, the Sabertooths from sector 12! They are gonna take us all the way to the finals this year. Let's go, Sabers! Rawrr!" He crouched down to them and put his hands up to his face mimicking their teeth, as his girls did the same.

              "Rawrr!"

              The girls jumped on top of their father and began clawing at him playfully. Victoria rubbed her head in confusion. She was expecting a more serious audience with the president of the Galactic Democratic Republic.

              "He's quite entertaining, isn't he, Commander?"

              "He has his moments."

              David lifted his daughters off his chest, and after standing up, he held his youngest in his arms while the older sister held his hand.

              "All right, kids, are you ready?" As David spoke he looked down at his son, who was sitting quietly on the couch watching cartoons on the holoscreen.

              "How's it going, sport, you excited for the game?"

              He rubbed his hands through his son's hair when the First Lady walked into the room with a small bag and kissed her husband on the cheek. "Hey, honey. I got all the kids' things. We're ready to go." Victoria turned to Mark looking concerned of the situation and spoke lightly to him.

              "What's going on, sir? Why is he avoiding us?"

              "Stand fast, Admiral."

              "Mr. President!" Victoria shouted as the presidential family readied themselves to leave. Victoria cleared her throat and spoke once again once she had his attention. "Surely you kept in mind the true nature of our visit here." The First Lady passed by them, nodding, as David turned back around to the elevator and laughed at the question.

              "Ha-ha, lady admiral—if you look to gain an ally in your great war you must observe the virtue of patience. Ah, here, sweetie, I have to set you down now."

              David crouched down as his daughters climbed off him and they headed towards their mother in the elevator. He cracked his neck and turned back towards Victoria and Mark.

              "You see I am an extremely busy man, Admiral. I understand and respect your intentions and I will ask you do the same for me."

              "Apologies, sir."

              Mark looked to the president, who looked as if Victoria's rude outburst did not bother him one bit. He then rested his hand on Victoria's shoulder. "No apologies required here, my lady. In fact I appreciate your tenacity. You are indeed well worthy of serving beside your great commander. Now to the stadium. After these opening rounds we shall discuss our terms."

              David waved them into the elevator. Mark and Victoria stood beside the presidential family and the guard shut the door. The elevator shot down the enormous curve of the massive Arc, and they were on their way to witness the kickoff of the PGL season.

***

             
We had finally made it
to our seats within the great stadium. The Arcadian Earth Memorial Coliseum was the largest known man-made structure in the universe, capable of seating over five million people. It was the first stadium constructed in Eden and this led to Arcadia becoming the largest city in all of Eden. It was an entertainment and corporate-based economy, with the PGL and the Eden Olympics based at its core.

              Mark and Helena went to go get drinks and snacks while I conversed with Silas. I finally broke the silence that occurred between us. It was quite a sight to behold. The stadium was nearly a kilometer tall, and eight kilometers in diameter, packed to the brim with fans.

              "I hear that the Salaran worlds have been banned from the league this season." As I spoke, Silas stared at the incredibly massive sphere at the heart of the circular stadium. "I never knew how much the people in Eden revered this sport. This is one of the most incredible things I have ever seen."

              "Not a sports fan, are ya?"

              "That sphere is enormous. How do you play in a field that large?"

              I laughed and decided to teach him a little about gravball. It was nice not discussing destiny or genocides with these Remorans for once.

              "It's actually not nearly as big as it looks. You might figure it out when the games begin. There is a much smaller sphere inside of that one; the outer sphere basically acts as a giant magnifying glass, so all of the people in this stadium can see exactly what is happening. Without the outer sphere, stadiums in Eden would be much, much smaller."

              "A way of reaching out to all who come to enjoy this game, huh? I am intrigued; how is it played?" Silas asked in curiosity and I happily responded partly because of my love for the sport, and I was also starting to gain a liking for this guy.

              "Well, you have two opposing teams of ten: one goalie, three defensive players, three center players, two offensive players. Then you have the jumper, he's kind of the ace in the hole. That was me; his job is to do whatever it takes to not only score, but make sure the opposing jumper never makes it across the line of scrimmage with the ball."

              "How does the game begin?"

              "Well, there's the traditional coin toss, then the jumper of the winning team kicks the ball into the playing field from above the sphere. What makes gravball so challenging is that there is no gravity inside the sphere. We use our boots to jump off the rounded surfaces of the sphere, and off other players to try and kick, throw, or in some cases head butt the ball into the goal."

              "This game sounds very dangerous."

              "The life expectancy of a professional gravball player is six years unless they are very good, then they can play their entire lives. I think only ninety-seven players died last year and over four hundred were injured. That's a new safety record." After I had explained the basis of the game to Silas he responded in a way I did not expect.