Kingdoms Away 1: Jorian Cluster Archives (14 page)

Robin wept, feeling the loss as clearly as
that first day. She curled up around the teddy, rocking back and
forth, hoping to ease the pain. She knew she had to pull herself
together for her unborn baby. Continued grief would make her
pregnancy difficult and she worried about the effects on the
embryo. How Feena loved this teddy she had called Mr. Pollocks.

Robin felt hands touch her. In her grief, she
did not hear William come in. He sat on the single bunk and rubbed
her arm.

“We’ll give Mr. Pollocks to our baby, and
when our baby is big enough we’ll share our love for Feena.”

Will was so reluctant to give the bear away,
even to his next child, he chose not to share his reticence with
his wife. He would allow his wife her time to grieve and find
another solution. “Until we find her.”

She never even noticed his quiet enigmatic
words.

William returned to the labs where they had
been monitoring some unusual activity at the Oriri. The Elysians
were seen to be entering and leaving there more frequently. It was
a unanimous decision to go there and investigate.

There had been spasmodic reports of Elysian
activity but no one could answer the question as to what was making
the orcas unrestful. William wondered, as many did, if this was the
sign that the Fourth Hostility was coming. They all felt nervous
and sick.

Overhead William heard the clear
announcement.

“All stop.”

Just five days ago, the announcement had been
made that the deceleration sequence had been activated. The quick
times still astounded everyone on board.

Back in the cabin, on the bed, a quieter
Robin lay still.

“We are on the Verge.”

She lay there still trying to define any
tiniest sensation that they were being coded into their home
dimension. She sighed; she felt nothing.

“We have crossed the bridge. De-animate
Attite Armor. Please refer to the flight plan on your computers for
the next Verging and travel session.”

Robin relaxed. Another announcement came
through clearly, unexpectedly.

“Could the Rushton’s please come to
Boomerang.”

She jumped up and the teddy fell to the
ground. Unable to stop herself, she grabbed it and put it back on
the bunk before flying out of the cabin. Feena would have expected
nothing less of her.

At that same moment William had jumped up
from his desk and dashed outside the laboratory. When he arrived at
Boomerang, a small, darkened room lit with all kinds of
communications equipment, Robin was already there with eyes still
red and puffy. He put his arm around her.

“Data transmission packaged up by Donaven and
left for the Rushtons.”

“Amir Donaven?”

“Not anymore. He resigned and has been
working on other projects aboard the Pteraspis.”

The tech was reading a separate package.
“This one goes to you and this one to the captain. Excuse me.” He
strode out via the hatchway, closing it behind him.

Robin and William cringed, having forgotten
to close the hatch. They inserted the Blazer into the nearest free
terminal, not even bothering to go to the privacy of their cabin.
There was the usual brisk greeting from Donaven, and then the
message leapt into a methodical report of what he had found since
the time of Serafina’s abduction. They watched as documents
appeared on the screen, with Donaven using some highlighting
feature to support his findings. The Elysians had reacted, not in
one or two areas, but on every planet, at the same time. Readings
revealed movements and energy emitted, from their form of
communication, increased. There were other incidents that only
someone with Donaven’s experience and expertise could find and
detail accurately. He noted the synced spikes only occurred after
Serafina’s birth. He had pieced together over seven years of
information, some of which had simply been archived without going
to the Coalition.

The report went on in Donaven style as he
continued to mention other irrelevant problems he had discovered,
but that was typical of him. He signed off, saying he was going to
move to Leda and that he would continue to monitor and report any
findings. But it was his warning to use and share the information
cautiously that made them think. “Finding her must be your top
priority; just be aware that it may also be others. I suggest you
begin a comparison.”

Robin and William looked at each other in
stunned silence. They both understood his meaning.

“What do we do?” Robin asked, whispering.

William scratched his head. “I didn’t really
think about the ramifications that our search may be leading
others. Donaven’s right but who do we trust?”

Before Robin could respond Mal rushed in,
followed by a dozen other scientists. They crowded the two,
demanding answers. William glanced at Robin, who nodded. She
replayed the message after waving Mal to close the hatch before
they were told off.

“What does it mean?”

“We have to study the reports closely.”

“We should move closer to the Oriri.”

“Comparison? He means for us to compare
Serafina’s life against the spikes.” Stell was looking at Donaven’s
warning again. “Had we been successful with her after all?”

Robin gave that scientist a look of daggers.
“Does that matter? She was—”

“Robin.” Her husband intervened softly. “This
could mean a lot. The question wasn’t ill-intended.”

“It’s okay, Will. I’m sorry, Robin. It was a
thoughtless comment. Serafina’s wellbeing and return should take
precedence over the experimental concerns.”

Robin nodded and turned back to the screen,
her attention now back on the message and all its implications.
There was still hope. “You’re right, Stell. And we think that’s
what Donaven meant.”

“It’s a bit cloak and dagger.” Mal sounded
gleeful.

Stella gave him a withering look.

The scientists were all talking amongst
themselves, getting in the way of Boomerang staff. They were
ushered out and the hatch closed behind them with a decided thump.
They all headed back for the labs when Robin had a thought, needing
to counter the unsaid thoughts of the majority of those around
her.

“What if she isn’t dead?”

The group turned and stared at her.

“If the Elysians responded when she was
kidnapped, then we know she was alive then. Surely Donaven would
have noticed a spike in the behavior if she had been killed. I mean
it’s not like the Elysians were there when she was taken. How did
they know? She must have some connection with them. Which means the
project did not fail.”

William and the others let her talk it out,
all coming to similar conclusions. William said, “Donaven himself
must have come to that same conclusion.”

Mal frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Because he talks as if she’s alive.”

Robin spoke again, light in her eyes once
more. “We must help Donaven pull together more details, we must
give him every bit of information on the behavior, habits and
routine of the Elysians in the last seven years. No—” Robin’s voice
rose in excitement. “We have to go back through the reports even
further.”

“Why?”

“That will take too long.”

“For what purpose?”

She smiled so broadly that some responded to
her, and those who understood nodded. “So that we can determine if
the Elysians responded unusually during the last twelve years—” She
swallowed hard, unable to finish.

“And when we have that model we can determine
how she is now.” Someone ended for her.

Everyone was worried how Serafina was being
treated.

“If there was a spike when she was born, and
then smaller ones throughout her life, surely there’d be a spike
when she was kidnapped. On a more serious note we’d then expect a
major spike in the data if she was dead.”

William grabbed her and swung her around.
Mal, as head scientist, quickly delegated responsibility once they
were back in the lab and sealed the hatch. He set a meeting time.
They would work as quickly as possible.

Robin and William headed back and decided to
stop off at their storage unit. Inside were all the memories of the
seven years they had with Feena. William pointed out their
daughter’s pictures.

“Look, they all have animals in them.”

Robin glanced over in surprise.

He laughed, saying, “Some of them are
stuffed, or on her clothes—”

“—or in her drawings she’s so proudly
displaying—”

“—or she’s posing with live animals. How did
she manage that?”

“How did we miss it?”

“I wonder if she still loves animals?”

Robin subconsciously rubbed her flat belly.
“Yes, I know she does.”

{[SPITHRA] [Erus] [Darcerus]

[151287/376/135/summer]}

Ed lay in bed. He didn’t want to get out. Being
twelve years of age meant greater responsibilities, which for Ed
meant less time around his father. He still had his normal class
times, but other selected individuals would take on stronger roles
in his life. His father ridiculed him in private frequently,
especially in front of his mother, or completely ignored his
presence or achievements. Many times, he was simply left out of
things. It was quite a feat, considering his father was rarely
home. His father was often angry at his mother, so much so that she
wasn’t able to function properly, which gave him more excuses to
get angry. His father knew better than to leave physical evidence
of the mistreatment so he played a devastating game of emotional
and mental combat.

Ed rolled onto his stomach and gripped the
pillow. While it was good he was to spend less time with his father
it also meant less time with his mother. He often felt very
protective toward her and now that he was older he wouldn’t be with
them as much. Ed had heard whispers that once Erianna, his mother,
had been very happy and often smiled. She still smiled but the
difference was noted, as were the shadows under her eyes and strain
upon her face. To Ed she was special, and whenever they could
Erianna took him on outings or spent time with him doing a lot of
different things. Sometimes when it was raining and cold, Erianna
and Ed would camp out in front of the fire and read or watch an
entertainment holovision on a projection mat that measured two
meters square. Erianna taught him many things but most of all
taught him to laugh. Those special times brought them closer to
each other and acted as a shelter from reality.

Ed rolled again and dragged himself out,
stopping to stare at himself in the full-length mirror. He was
short, sandy-haired and pale. On his lean body were pale scars, but
since he had joined Ethas on the soldier’s course, his father no
longer belted him. Discipline, that was what Ed needed. He poked
his tongue at himself. Other times of enjoyment came when his
father was OffPlanet. Ethas, Parax and Juner would be invited to
play and they would enjoy the castle as if it was a playground.
Ethas was used to its size but Parax and Juner would often be
amazed at the immensity. They often got into mischief and explored
areas not permitted for such tenacious twelve-year-olds.

Ed crept out, across the passage, still in
his PJs, and stared out the window across from his room overlooking
the sunny gardens. Ed saw his mother and father discussing
something, and Erianna laughed at something. He loved these times
and wished they happened more often. Sometimes he hesitantly joined
in, unsure if his presence would disrupt the fragile harmony.
Things would start off well but occasionally he would forget to
behave correctly and bring on his father’s displeasure. Other times
his father would get upset over something his mother said and he
would blend back into the furniture before discreetly removing
himself. At times when anger was present he would hover in the
vicinity with concern in his heart for his mother, causing him much
pain and sorrow. Most times when he saw them together he would go
to his rooms and engage in activities that kept him out of sight.
Nights were always the hardest but a new day meant lessons, wood
skills and training sessions with the twins.

Ed left them to it. He had more interesting
things today. The Master of Wood Skills, Trent, planned to team
them up and make them swap specialties so that their overall skills
developed. They all took turns at design, measurement and cutting
out material before they fell into their favorite areas. Part of
their classes included study of the various forests found on Erus,
when they were planted, how they are maintained and the ratio of
felling to planting and everything in between. Often Trent would
receive an order and allow the threesome to make the item. This
gave them a taste of what real work was about.

Ed headed back into his room, seeing his
aides coming around the corner. They joined him, making his bed,
laying out his clothes and helping him dress. He thought privately
to himself that woodworking was much better than studying the
Structure of Erus Society and Economics. It was more stimulating
than Lessons of Hierarchy with Jemisen and the many volumes of The
Combatants. He had just begun fitness training with Safira’s
underlings, which he enjoyed, but only because Safira made it fun
and would often butt into Jemisen’s classes to pull him away for
something “crucial.” As twelve-year-olds, Parax, who was not yet
included in those classes, would demand information about Safira
and they would talk about her beauty. Juner would throw them
scornful looks to which they mostly ignored.

Ed thanked his staff and headed outside where
a ‘Tiker’ sat purring away. It was a new black airvehicle that
would be his one day. At the moment, he was still chauffeured. He
sat in the passenger seat ready for some theory. He still hated his
Unuslingua classes, Math was more useful now for measurements,
tolerances and such like, he didn’t mind his studies of the Joiran
System and science, and he liked any studies that included building
but lacked the motivation to get into any of the Architecture
Specialties, which also required him to have more enthusiasm for
Math and its associated specialties. Woodworking still came under
the Lower skills office but Edrik loved and excelled at it. The
worst part of his life was yet to come; when he turned twenty-one
he would be required to begin the intense studies of Sovereignty
with at least ten other individuals whom Ed thought might end up
being better rulers than he anyway. Twenty years of painful, boring
training, testing, scenarios, role play and competition on how to
rule. Then the tutelage under his father would begin if he
succeeded with the studies … Best not to think about that now. His
father didn’t think he would succeed anyway so at least some
pressure was off, but his father did expect him to gain Upper
skills and use them to the full advantage allowed on Erus. It was
still eight years away and there were more exciting things to
happen, like training on horses, getting his permit to drive an
airvehicle and training with the Space Corpus.