A New Divide (Science Fiction) (16 page)

              "Hey, Arcadia, how are we feeling tonight!" The audience responded in uproar and began cheering my name. I waited for the screams of excitement to calm before I spoke again.

              "You know I want to level with Eden right now. Much has happened these past few months." When I heard my own voice echo across the vast stadium with incredible effect, I sighed into the microphone and turned to the officials. They all looked to me with anxious looks upon their faces. I know they could not wait for me to announce my decision to return.

              "You know after I was rescued by the Remorans I had one goal in mind. This was a part of my life that was taken from me, and for a long time all I wanted was to get it back."

              Truthfully I really wanted to play gravball again—it was the one thing in this life I knew I could do better than anyone else, but I knew it would not fulfill the emptiness I felt in my newfound outlook on life. Something about the emptiness was comforting though. It let me know that there was something out there to fill it, and something about searching for it made me feel like I finally had a purpose. It was a purpose that would never die, unlike my future in gravball. So I lifted the microphone back up and announced my decision to Eden.

              "But, now that I'm here in this magical place where it all began, I don't want this anymore. They were some of the best times of my life but they are behind me now. So it is here where my dream of being a gravball star began that I announce my official retirement."

              The audience gasped and was overcome by silence. I began to walk to the stairs that led off the sphere when the stadium filled with cheer and everyone began to chant my name. "COLLIN! COLLIN! COLLIN!" I turned around and closed my eyes. I let my final bask of glory in the gravball community fill my soul when the president interrupted.

              "Very humble of you, Collin, but might I ask you a favor?"

              "Of course, David."

              "Would you be willing to serve the first ball of the season? One final glorious kick to put an end to an era?"

              I looked to him as I handed the microphone to the commissioner and nodded, smiling widely. "Nothing would make me happier." The top of the sphere slid open and the teams began to enter the playing field, an antigravity beam shot out of the opening, and stopped at the scoreboard that hovered above the sphere. I stepped up to the beam with confidence as the announcer addressed the audience. On my march to the beam I felt a strange feeling come over me.

              A major chapter of my life had just ended but it was that beginning of a new one that filled me with emotion. The signal of that new beginning occurred when the commissioner handed me the game ball.

              "Good luck, Collin."

              I stepped into the beam and threw the ball lightly above my head. It had traveled roughly four meters above me when I stepped through. I jumped up slightly, and began to leap towards the ball. I closed my eyes, rotating my body 180 degrees, and stretched my right leg back. When I was fully above the ball, I took my leg and gave an extremely powerful kick. My body rotated back upright, and the ball shot into the sphere and the intense game below began.

              I then floated towards the edge of the beam as Mark outstretched his hand to me. I accepted this gesture and I left the light purple beam. "So what will you do now, Collin?"

              I looked to him and smiled. I responded with the only thing in my life that could bring me purpose. "Commander Wyman, let’s get on with this expedition."

              Mark smiled brightly as we followed the president off the sphere and onto the platform that led to the VIP suites. "Collin, it would be an honor."

CHAPTER 10 - THE UNION OF EDEN

             
A veil of darkness
had covered the city. The games had concluded but the festivities had only just begun. The entire city was filled with semi-orderly anarchy, as fans drunk off the fumes of Arcadian nightlife roamed the streets in search of what was sure to be the night of their lives. Even from as high up as the Arc balcony, music, cheering, and the explosions of fireworks could be heard flooding the night, giving an incredible mood amongst all who had made the incredible journey to this magnificent and plentiful city.

              The festivities in Arcadia are legendary, said to last at least eighty hours straight after the opening games. It was seen as a time to celebrate, where all of the nations of Eden gathered to share in the joy of the game, and the peace—despite how horrible the conditions in the rest of the solar system were. Only the citizens of Salaras, and the other worlds belonging to their kingdom, were not attending this year, although they never took part in the festivities anyway. They just got their asses kicked by the Raydenite teams every year.

              Hell, even the presidential cabinet was living it up in their prestigious palace at the tip of the Arc. Although it was the first time I had been able to partake in the opening activities in six years, I just wanted to relax. I've partied enough to fill fifty lifetimes.

              I had walked out of the crazy party the presidential palace had turned into, and I was taking in the cool breeze of the hot summer night out on the balcony. I stared down as the fireworks illuminated the air below and I felt content, knowing that I was right to shed that part of my life away.

              Helena walked out with a drink in her hand and headed towards me. "Hey, you! The party's inside!" I turned around to face her and as she neared she almost collapsed in an effort to hand me my drink. We both shared in the laughter.

              "Ha-ha. I am sorry, Collin."

              "It's okay, Helena. It will wash out."

              "Or should I call you the Iceman?"

              "Not anymore. I retired, remember?"

              "Ah, that's right. The end of an eh-ra, they're saying."

              "You mean era?"

              "Oh you are such a smartass, Collin." She handed me my drink and I set it on the balcony next to me. She looked beautiful and not just because she was drunk, mind you. She wore a beautiful white dress, and she had tied her hair up into a bow. It dangled down her shoulders and blew gracefully in the soft wind. She perched herself on the ledge and turned herself around. After several moments of silence she shook her head and spoke.

              "They surprise me those people. For politicians they sure know how to party. My goodness."

              "You seem to be having fun."

              "I am having a blast. You know, I love to dance but I hardly ever get drunk."

              "Well, if you were having a blast, then why in the world did you come out here?"

              She smiled and leaned her body against me, clutching my arm. "Maybe I was worried about you. Why don't you come inside?"

              "Not my type of crowd. I never mixed well with figures of authority. I have a better idea."

              "What might that be, Mr. Former Iceman?"

              I nodded over to one of the hover bikes that were docked on the platform parallel to the outer terrace of the circular palace, and Helena became very excited. "You wanna get out of here?"

              "Definitely." I took her hand and we ran to the hover bikes, leaving the presidential palace behind.

***

[--]

-The Arc-

              Inside of the presidential house a much more serious conversation was taking place. Although it did not seem like it at first. There were several leading individuals of the GDR sitting around a formal dining table. They laughed around the dimmed lighting as the festivities of the night bled into the room and illuminated their drunk faces.

              "You know what they say, Mark. It is always better to be late than arrive ugly," David said as he leaned up against his wife. Then General Benjamin Valon of the Arcadian Army shared his thoughts.

              "You know why he's always late to work? 'Cause he always kisses his wife right before he leaves. Then I swoop and . . ." The group laughed and David responded.

              "You know, that makes so much sense now. I ask my wife, I say, 'Hey! I want you to let me know the next time you have an orgasm,' and she says, 'Yeah, I'll call you next time you're at work.' It was you, Valon, you sneaky bastard!"

              The group all laughed and David's wife leaned against his shoulder laughing hysterically. "You are ridiculous, David."

              "Hey, you know what, Ben? I may always be late to work, but I always make up for it by leaving early," David said as he tapped his glass against his general's. The group's long conversation of ridiculousness that resulted in laughter was coming to an end as Mark wiped his mouth and gave a subtle glare to David. "All right then."

              David bent over to his wife and kissed her on the cheek. He whispered in her ear and she got up and left the room. And as she stepped towards the door she addressed the other guests.

              "Mr. Parker, Ms. Lewis, might I kindly ask you to give my goofy husband a moment with the Remorans. They have important business to discuss."

              "Of course. Mr. President, always good to see you."

              "Have a nice night, sir."

              "Likewise, be safe out there you two." David bid them farewell as they left the room. After the doors shut behind them David looked over to Mark and his immediate cabinet. Mark, Victoria, and Silas awaited the president with anticipation. David wiped his mouth and nodded to his general.

              "So before the lady admiral cuts my throat due to her impatience, let's hear it. You are the man with the plan, Mark, o' buddy."

              "As I am sure you are aware, the peace is under attack, after Arcoh's Crusade destroyed Raydenite civilization. My goal is to gather all of the nations in Eden to create a union in this system. Not a nation, but a council that will oversee the events that occur in Eden, in an effort to ensure the survival of our species under a free and fair system. We have already gained undeniable support from the free worlds that have seceded from the two main factions of humanity."

              David kept eating his steak as General Benjamin Valon gave his word. "How can you attempt a stab at peace, when the last king of the old world is setting entire planets aflame?"

              Silas fixed his position on his chair by crossing his legs as he spoke. "Perhaps a diplomatic resolution can be reached, considering an all-out offensive against the Kingdom of Salaras would be catastrophic. Billions will die in that conflict."


              David scoffed at Silas's comment as he lit up a cigar. "Please, ambassador, I don't know if you have ever personally met Arcoh the Eminent, 'the Snake of Eden,' 'the Last King,' whatever you want to call him, but the man is completely unreasonable. Ever since he rose to his seat on the throne twenty-five years ago he has begun a campaign that has resulted in more deaths than any war in human history combined. This is especially considering the recent events concerning the Raydenites."

              "Mr. President, we cannot lower ourselves to his level, it defeats the purpose. A diplomatic solution has to be obtainable." Victoria laughed at her brother as she set her feet roughly upon the table.

              "Enough of your insolence, brother. You are truly a fool if you think that a man like Arcoh will submit to anything less than brute force. Arcoh is a coward, so we must surround him, destroy his armies, and capture him, and he will easily bend to our will. We must ensure that he leads only his nation, instead of trying to conquer all of Eden."

              "And how do you suppose we go about that, Admiral? Just waltz into Salaras and kidnap him?" Valon said as he crossed his arms in frustration. "Listen to the commander's proposal, General Valon," David said as he pointed to Mark. All focus in the room turned to Mark, who sighed as he rubbed his hands through his hair.

              "These nations, these worlds, imagine them as tactical points. There are twenty-five combined planets and habitable moons in this solar system. Three of them belong to the GDR and six belong to the Kingdom of Salaras. So that leaves sixteen worlds that are freely occupied by independent governments."

              "You are speaking of forming your solar union," David responded in intrigue.

              "More or less. Now we have persuasion over half these worlds, and when we defeat Arcoh his nation will be no more. He is the last king Salaras will ever have. I suggest that the GDR should reshape their fallen nation."

              David puffed on his cigar for a few moments as the group waited for his deciding word. David nodded to his general, who spoke for him. "You have our support, Commander. That's a risk I'm willing to take. We have feared the possibility of a crusader assault upon our core worlds. We will happily assist you as long the GDR will become the leading authority in this solar union." Mark nodded in relief and continued.

              "Now, there is one task we must undertake before we assault Salaras. We head to the planet of Rayden to convince Zachary Wright, and what remains of his people to fight at our side. I am sure they will jump at the chance for retribution."

              "Very well, Commander, we need a date to rally so we can rid the virus spreading throughout Eden," Valon said as he leaned forward onto the table.

              "Fifty-six Gannon days from now, the date that has been set. As we speak, roughly 70 percent of my fleet is traveling to the independent worlds to spread our influence, and gather support for our cause. On that date they will rally with us over the Planet of Rayden, as will all that will choose to purge Arcoh from his throne. I do not like to resort to violence, Silas, but in this scenario, with this relentless, and incredible enemy, we truly have no choice."

              "It is okay, sir, I understand."

              David reached across the table to shake Mark's hand. "Looks like we have a deal, Commander. I look forward to fighting at your side again."

              "I wouldn't have it any other way, old friend," Mark said as he receded back into his chair. It was a last resort appealing to the control-hungry GDR president. At the time Mark thought that Eden would be in far better hands with the democrats than with the cruel intentions of the kingdom. But he would eventually learn that even though President David Alexander Harris was a generous and kind-hearted individual, he was far from being a good man, or even a decent one. Mark and David were very old friends, but that was part of Mark's problem—he had the tendency to misplace his loyalties with people he cared for.

***

             
Helena and I
had taken the jet cycle and ascended through Arcadia's skyline. We just barely hovered over the marvelous display of decorative firepower that coated the Arcadian skies. I was driving the bike and, as I set the autopilot, I lay back and Helena sat cross-legged on top of the hood of the bike.

              "It is perfect out. I love the breeze," she said as she took in the air of the night, and stared out at a city that stretched further than the eye could see, far over the curvature of the planet.

              "I always loved this city; you could spend an entire lifetime here and never run out of things to do."

              I took a deep breath as we climbed past the platforms, past the docking stations, and into the empty airspace. The sounds of celebration were slowly fading to murmurs. The moonlight was all that had illuminated us, really made me feel at peace. "Quite a night, huh? I used to wish I could live here."

              "Why is that?"

              I lightly chuckled as I turned the bike towards the Aurora Star Stream that hung some fifteen kilometers over the city.

              "Ha, a young celebrity living in a city where the parties never end? The genome has also provided that the girls always stayed young, and beautiful, and the parties would never lose their appeal, at least that's what I used to think."

              "You know what I have found in my studies?"

              "That you hate your job?"

              "Hardly. The mind will always continue to grow, even if our bodies do not. It is quite something, researching those who looked twenty-five, but, in all reality, were hundreds of years old in their minds."

              "What about you, Miss Roland? Are you an old bat in that crazy head of yours?" She hit me playfully and responded. "No, for your info I am twenty-three and I don't think I will ever take the genome. I want to experience my life the way nature intended. Plus, I want to have children at some point in my life. Unlike you."