Boko’s head, the man who was a boy only yesterday, and felt the power of the evil that was trying to keep its hold on him.
“I have nothing but love in my heart for you. But you have to help us right the wrongs that you have seen.” Kun smiled, and Boko felt as though he was a child again. Hope flooded like adrenaline through his body, expelling deep exhaustion. He looked at his grandfather, absorbing his energy of calm.
“What do you need me to do?”
“Boko, this is a matter of some importance. It will not be easy, and it will not be safe.” He stood and lengthened to his full height, dusky ash-colored robes billowing out behind. “Come with me and I will tell you the story. It is time for you to know.” He walked out of the gazebo just as the showering sky ceased to issue forth any more water. Soon, the sun would be back.
After a short walk, Boko found himself following his grandfather into what appeared to be a cave. It very quickly revealed itself to be of manmade origin, well lit and, surprisingly, full of delicate computer instruments. Books lined the entirety of the cylindrical wall, except for the interruption of several monitor screens, which displayed satellite imagery.
Kun walked to a section of the bookshelves, removed a thick, atlas sized specimen, and placed it on a large, polished stone reading table. He opened it to a page and indicated a section with an outstretched finger. Boko found himself sitting, enthralled with the tale unfurling from the slashes and strokes of ink.
Nearly two hours passed while Boko’s head bobbed up and down, soaking in the full meaning and impact of a testimonial that was in direct opposition to everything that Robert Warden had ever told him. He felt deflated, the blinding light of truth still sending an involuntary twitch through his again-fatigued frame.
The story was incredibly mind-boggling. He could not deny its legitimacy, however. All the salient facts lined up, but moreover, there were too many other pieces of evidence. Grandfather had piles of fragile photographs, firsthand testimony…no one could possibly fabricate all of this. Beyond that, he wanted to have faith in the right cause this time.
In the distance, as if in accordance with the mood of the moment, temple bells sounded a call…to battle, or to justice? He stood, feeling a renewed inner strength, as though he’d been through a cleansing. The perception of languor fell off him, discarded like an old skin.
Grandfather Kun was laboring over some sort of data input terminal, peering at the monitor while he worked. Boko saw the Nimitz pop up on the screen, not failing to notice the significantly raised eyebrow cast in his direction.
“Is that what I think it is?” A simple nod asserted that it was. He walked over to the monitor and gazed at the terrible grace of the structure.
“You will see, Boko that you must help to break the circle of destruction that was begun so long ago.”
“How can I let go of the things I have been a part of? I’m so afraid, grandfather, I’ve been haunted by myself for too long.”
“Perhaps my two students will be able to help you answer some of your questions.” Before he could respond, the face of a young woman solidified out of a static-ridden connection. She nodded deferentially to Master Kun, noting his company in the background of her screen.
“I see he came around. As you predicted.” There was an edge to her voice, though, as she looked Boko over.
“What have you , Julieta? Have you seen them yet?”
“No. Unfortunately, we came aboard the station just as there was some sort of crisis going on. It seems that one of your grandson’s associates killed herself.”
“The doctor? But she was supposed to….” All eyes turned to Boko expectantly. Julieta’s face deepened into a frown.
“This is going to complicate things. Not to mention the fact that Wallace literally ran into the station’s executive officer. I think they may try to bring us in for questioning.” She felt a growing sense of unease…or maybe just indigestion.
“You wish to lie low, is that it?”
“I think for a day or so, we’ll try to blend into the scenery, yes. I don’t want to be skulking around with their security battalion trailing behind us. I’ll let you know as soon as we make contact. Welcome home, Boko.” With that, she was gone, except for the faint impression of a smile. It was strange to be amongst people who trusted one another.
“How were you so certain I would come back?”
“We share blood, young man, and that is all I ever need to have to hope.” With that, Kun walked out into late afternoon’s sunlight, seeming to his grandson a great deal younger than he had remembered.
۞The Nimitz
The next morning, Maeve was at loose ends. It was getting a little tiresome that the only question she seemed to have in her days was what to eat, and when to work out. Naturally, she was avoiding the elephant in the room, but there was no reason to turn around and face it.
Facing it would mean having to look back at her own mistakes. That and the circumstances that had led her, ultimately, to the Nimitz. What was it that was there, lingering in the dark corners of her mind? The blood, floating in the obsidian and amber of space had brought everything rushing back. She’d been successful in driving it back down, but it was getting more and more difficult to manage.
She looked over at the counter in her little kitchen. Partially empty bottles from the night before were neatly arranged against the wall. Why had they left it all with her? It was possible to ignore them, of course, but she didn’t necessarily want to. The problem was that she knew she ought to. She’d been down this road already. That particular memory was right up front; no hiding from it.
As she’d been brought out of sleep, just being in the clinic had brought it back to the surface. How many times had she cheated death? It was easy to lose count. It had been alright the other night, she argued. Even though she’d pretty much flung herself at someone, even though he’d turned her down not once, but twice.
She walked over to the counter, staring at all the different shades of browns and reds. Why today? Why not the night before last, when things were actually going wrong? Delayed, it was delayed. Merlot was the color of blood. And why had he turned her down?
The Major and the Colonel. They had a bromance. Who else was there to turn to? Nobody. Just the little soldiers lined up against the wall. They were quiet. Everyone had to be quiet. Wars didn’t happen in your own country. They happened to other places. Other people watched bombs and rifle fire from their windows. Other people lived with visions of humanity torn to pieces. The bottles saluted, each in their own turn.
She set down a tumbler and poured for a very long time.
۞
“You know, I hated school the first time around. I just really would rather not.” Grace frowned at her fingernails. Antonio shrugged, knowing he’d been on the unpopular side of opinion lately. Might as well run with it.
“Sorry. It just seems like one of our few options right now.” He didn’t mind the thought of being back in a university, actually.
“I prefer the simple act of blowing stuff up. How much school does that really take to carry over?”
“You’re right. Let’s just forget any possible advances in technology.”
“I don’t have to make the stuff, I just make it go boom.” She mimed a detonation with her hands, and smiled at the logic of explosive agents.
“I think we just ought to worry about our own selves for right now, and take whatever comes our way.” Antonio could at least be relied on to take a pin to anyone’s inflated mood.
“You mean…split up?” Grace had let her hair go rampant of late. She looked like a golden-haired moppet.
“Yes, I do.” Antonio got up, leaving the rest of them to sit and mull over his words. They stared at one another.
Grace, Josh, Jemi, and Leif were playing cards at a table under a weeping willow. They didn’t like the reality, but it was possible that Antonio wasn’t entirely wrong.
“But….” Jemi couldn’t even begin to formulate he
r thoughts.
“What? How can we possibly sustain ourselves like this?” Leif shuffled his cards restlessly.
“Leif, man, you know I’m open to new possibilities, but I think parting ways might be a premature leap.” Josh was immune to the stress as usual. He had better things to worry about.
“We could be a carny act, ‘World’s Oldest People’.” Grace threw down a pair, trying to regain her sense of humor.
“We have no more mission. It’s pretty obvious that some of us are already moving on anyway.” Leif avoided Josh’s appraising look.
“Oh, ho, so that’s what this is about. You are upset over this whole Maeve thing with the station XO.”
“I can’t sit around hoping she’ll see me any other way than she does. She almost called me her brother last night.”
“So? Don’t let your wounded ego get in the way of making good decisions. We need to have each other’s backs for a while…my two cents, anyway.” Josh made a play with his own pair, earning a hearty curse from Grace.
“With inflation, his two cents is worth a lot more these days.” Jemi poked Leif pointedly. He swatted her hand away.
Conversation was interrupted by Antonio walking back up. He looked deeply thoughtful, and stood next to the table for several moments, saying nothing.
“What’s up?” Josh was surveying the lie, looking for an easy victory. Maybe on the next play, he thought.
“Hmmm?” Antonio was still staring aimlessly into the distance.
“You look like you have something on your mind.” Leif didn’t really care, but it seemed as though he’d stand there until someone asked.
“Strangest thing. Still not sure I believe my eyes.” Antonio smiled without mirth and shook his head.
“Would you mind sharing with the rest of us?” Josh was actually feeling a little annoyed by the performance. Antonio could get on the nerves after a while.
“I think I just saw Wallace.” They all fell silent.
۞
She wasn’t sure why she’d left her little apartment. It was probably a bad idea. Not one of her better ideas, anyway. Things were hazy. The actual memory of standing up and walking out the door was lost. All she knew now was that she was in the middle of the commercial sector, surrounded by little shops and cafes. How…odd.
It had too much of the noise of things gone by. Everything else was gone and obliterated by the passage of time. So much noise. How was that possible in space? Space was a vacuum that abhorred. It should have turned her to dust as well. She closed her eyes and put her hands over her ears. Only the sound of her breathing was left. Draw air in, let it out, in, out. It seemed that hours were passing by the second as she stood there, until a firm hand on her arm stopped the clock.
“Maeve? What are you doing?”
“Nothing. Trying to remember to breathe.” She didn’t want to look at him.
“Have you been drinking?”
“Not that it’s really any of your business, Major, but I think you know the answer to that question.”
“You’re right, it isn’t my business, but you’re standing in the middle of a public place looking a little crazy. It’s bound to draw attention sooner or later.” He was overwhelmed by feelings of concern and irritation. She drew up close to him; a little touch of anger overcame her.
“What the hell do you care?” Her pain reached out and slapped him. Dmitry felt his surge of annoyance begin to draw heat.
“I’m beginning to ask myself the same thing.” He kept hold of her arm as she turned to leave.
“Leave me be, if you don’t care.” She pulled, trying to break free, but he was unyielding by then.
“I can’t do that.”
“What, as in your duties require it? Don’t you feel the need to ask your commanding officer for permission first?” She felt the bitter satisfaction of first