Log 1 Matter | Antimatter (50 page)

Ara was thinking of her climbs with Kavela.
She’d been shocked by his words, and rightly so. Kavela was being
manipulated by the Establishment and it appeared as if she
understood that. Jamie had plans well in place to prepare her for
her apprenticeship and the possibility of butting up against the
Establishment. He dreaded the next one hundred years.

As they finished their drinks, Kavela had
informed Ara that the Artifacts themselves were shrouded in mystery
but rumor had it that if an Artifact was destroyed then mayhem
would follow.

She had asked, “Like what?”

He made sure she was strapped into her
climbing harness after their break. “Like if the Superlunary were
destroyed, yours, my—” he had leaned in close “—and everyone’s
energy would combine. No more separation.” He managed to make it
sound sexual and she’d laughed with him.

“Of just energy?” She screwed up her face,
trying to imagine that.

He tapped her nose and laughed. “It boggles
the mind does it not? Good thing there isn’t a “Body” Artifact.
Imagine all of us combined in one big blimp!”

Again, she had to laugh with him. And now, to
her shame, she wanted to run away at what was being suggested and
yet, after all he had been through, he was still here. And it was a
personal diary, not a diary filled with Establishment or plots or
plans. Just his thoughts and feelings over the years.

She jerked back, thinking about making love
to him, and wondered if her responses would be inhibited now, and
if he’d notice.

And now? Genocide!

She voted quickly, hoping still she was
voting with the majority, a resounding “no”, better they all died.
When the final tally rose from the floor, there were gasps of anger
and surprise mingled with a collective sigh of annoyance.

There were murmurs about her youth and
inexperience.

Queen Audrina sat at the bottom looking cool
and regal. Kavela was sitting next to the elegant queen. Ara
discreetly touched the tablet that was used to cast the votes,
inputting a little program she had made while abandoned. They
really should have watched her more closely. Kavela had voted with
the minority. Somehow that did not relieve her. Majority voted in
favor of genocide including Audrina. Yet she somehow knew that both
Kavela and Audrina were of similar minds. How many levels did the
intrigue go down?

“Or up or across.”

Startled, she glanced at her guard, unable to
make out his possibly disfigured face through the shadows of the
hood.

“I’m as handsome as always.”

A small burble of laughter slipped through
her lips and the small distraction broke the spiral of dread.

The verdict was not carried.

All because of her vote.

The Genocide Vote changed everything for her.
Eyes turned to her. She squirmed in her chair but she remained
silent. So much for privacy. So much for the majority. She
justified her program hack because of the lack of privacy but a
little voice niggled at her that she was wrong to invade others’
privacy. Voices rose around her and to her right she was beckoned
out by firm and friendly hands.

As she stood, her guard positioned himself
between her and the crowds, some PuGs even shouting up at her. It
was hard in the narrow space but he was determined to shield her
with his body. As she bumped into him, she felt his hard body and
weapons strapped to his waist, arms and legs. So she bumped into
the chairs to her right instead but his arm came around her and
pulled her back so she didn’t hurt herself. She was handed off to
other minority voters. Let the killing begin, was her most
frequently recurring thought. How was she going to stay one step
ahead as instructed by the user interface? They didn’t allow her to
navigate her Seeker home, aware of her shock.

Ara knew her life would be in danger.
Somehow, she made it to her rooms. Her bags were packed already.
She staggered to the bathroom and threw up. Waves of hot and cold
spread over her body. Staggering around and looking into the mirror
told her everything she needed to know—white face, with fear
written all over it, blue eyes large. What it didn’t show was how
sick she felt, the pain in her heart, and how her throat was
closing up, blocking the airflow. Her guard stepped in and pulled
her tightly against him. She clung and, before she knew it, she was
sobbing. He stroked her hair and then, finally, as she calmed down,
handed her some tissue. She took deep breaths. In and out. Wiping
her eyes, she splashed some more water over her face as he rubbed
her back.

Someone called out to her and she hardly
recognized her friends and made it to one of the main foyers, her
guard in tow. Vin gripped her hand while Zarti stood close by,
shielding her. Someone passed her a hot drink and she wrapped her
hands around it, numb to her core. She watched the liquid and
ripples with fascination, unable to lift her gaze to register those
talking over her head. She touched the rich fabric of the chair.
When had she sat down? Hands removed the cup, and a firm hand was
on her back. She was ushered into a small office. She thought it
was her guard this time but when the finger tilted her face, she
was looking into serious brown eyes.

“Korbet.”

“You were silly—”

She didn’t know why she did it. Anger filled
her. “I’m not a silly, orphan, little girl!”

She dug into his mind to find out how he
voted and was repelled with some force but, to her horror, she
found herself pinned to the back wall. On Korbet’s cheek was a red
mark.

A sob burst from her. “I’m … so sorry.”

“I was going to say you were silly not to
join me.” He eased off her, and rubbed her wrists. He kept his face
close, his face full of sympathy. “Poor choice of words on my part.
I didn’t mean to be so forceful. It is I who should apologize. You
are in shock, and have been treated poorly by your peers. I’m with
the minority, honeybee.”

She reached up as he wiped her tears, and
touched his cheek. He rested a hand over hers. “You needn’t worry.
There are those who would be your friends.”

He had always been there for her. He had been
so patient with her as a little girl when she interrupted him all
the time. She caressed his cheek, sensing a shift in his mood. His
eyes held such a depth of emotion she couldn’t even begin to
decipher it. There was a knock and they had to part. She didn’t
even get to say goodbye but his eyes were sympathetic, and, again,
something indecipherable.

Many people hugged her and she tried to keep
strong. Faces were blurred, voices, murmurs of a crowd, and gentle
mental caresses along with blocks to prevent others from harming
her. She was transported back home. She was vaguely aware her
Seeker was in the cargo bay of some enormous vessel. She barely
registered the HaV announcements and remained seated and strapped
into a passenger’s or her cabin’s seat. As she went to step out,
hands gripped the sides of her face. A familiar face came into
focus. She blinked a few times.

“Ziana.”

“Ara. We are with you.”

“Are you?”

“There’s time for you to try to find another
solution. That’s why you voted with the minority isn’t it?”

She studied the dark features, the gorgeous
eyes.

“Yes, I had to buy time.”

“Well, you have us to help.”

“How far are you willing to take that
help?”

Ziana leaned back on the bed.

Ara leaned forward on her safety chair.
“Ziana, do not be scared. But the road I walk will be …
chaotic.”

The dark eyes widened. She whispered, “Ara
you must not think that way. The Jungar?”

Ara gripped her warm hand. “Yes, I must. It
may be the only way.”

Ziana swallowed hard. “Then it is the way I
must go too.” She then said with a kind of wonder. “Jungar!”

Ara needed key personnel. She had to research
Chaos and Kavela knew about it. She had the urge to sign the
papers. “Ziana, where are my apprenticeship documents?”

Ziana pointed to her drawers. “We put them in
the top drawer.”

She stood and pulled them out.

Ara signed them with her Geno Seal and
pressed “send”.

She felt better in one respect, her first,
no, second step and working to find a resolution. The moment she
voted with the minority, she had set out on a path; there was no
point in now jerking around.

Jamie was tense.

While the queens and kings and those labeled
as the “Majority” for genocide didn’t actually try to make an
attempt on her life then and there, there were attacks from the
Establishment and some Avatara faction who should not have known
about the vote. They were being dealt with as opportunists who made
use of so many notables being in one place. And that certainly was
an issue. The Aryan Military had been on high alert for weeks
now.

Security guards were running around while
members of staff were trying to calm the agitated Pure-Gens. Jamie
gave permission for Vinicus and Zarti to take Ara back home on
their large ranger. They packed her Seeker that she’d been so proud
to arrive in. His own ranger was on standby.

He found an unexpected person waiting in his
ranger and he was immediately wary. She had breached his security
and Marc had last told him not to trust her. “Aven?”

“Jamie, I think I can help you.” Her almost
black eyes were huge, but there were shadows under them made more
evident by her very pale skin. She was very slender, almost
shapeless.

“How?” More lies? He didn’t need all this. He
had one focus, Ara. There was one disadvantage to the procedure he
had to get to the Planet of Law; he had to go back to the CU
straight away. His systems were already shutting down.

“Jamie—it’s about the Vakar. They are nearer
than you think. It’s why I’m raising it.”

Jamie felt sick as he began to close the
hatch. Aven nodded. He sealed it. “How near?”

“They permeate the Core. I think some are
pretending to be Pure-Gens.”

“How do you know this?” To impersonate
Pure-Gens they had to be matter and energy heavy. Also, all Aryans,
especially Pure-Gens, were registered.

She followed him down to the bridge.

“Because I’m the one who’s accessing the CU
all the time. I know it well. I know you’ve been in there … and
others.”

“Including the Vakar?”

She nodded and sat in the co-pilot’s
seat.

“Why are you coming forward now?”

“I was in the CU when I noticed a lot of
activity in the region. I mean more than expected. I tracked the
rangers and noted some odd readings. The Vakar look like they are
disconnected from the Maya but they aren’t. It took hours. By the
time I found out, I saw movement to the Cradle. I think they are
going to attack … ah, what’s wrong?”

Jamie shook his head, almost having given
himself away. “But most have left…” Jamie’s Voice beeped. “I have
to take this.” He lifted his comms to his ear. “Diane?”

Soon, Zarti, Vin and the others were sitting
in Ara’s room. Ziana filled them in. Ara did not tell them about
the Maya. None must know she was, in fact, vulnerable.

“Chaos? But how?”

“Kavela is the key, and the training I will
receive under him. I will learn what I can but you must know I will
have to take control. I know many of you respect him.” The user
interface told her Kavela was under the control of the
Establishment but worked against them if he could.

“We will think on this, Ara.”

“Ara—” A rumbling caused them to sit up
straighter and grab hold of whatever was near to steady
themselves.

“What?”

Ara’s breathing increased, her head felt
light. The vibrations were abnormal. People started yelling, and
everyone staggered out of her cabin, bumping into the walls on
either side. Ara followed but Ziana pushed her gently back.

“Stay here, Ara.”

She nodded, scared anyway.

Was it an attack already? Was this how her
life was to be from now? Another rumble and then a thump. She heard
voices, and she closed her cabin door, locking it with a shaking
hand. Backing up, she fell onto the bed.

Someone started thudding on her hatch
door.

Ara grasped the material of her pants,
twisting it and then twisting to her right, she fell to the floor;
she shook her bag, getting her daggers. The cold metal felt good in
her hands. As she unsheathed another dagger, hands grabbed her from
behind and a bag went over her head. Screams filled the ranger as
she was carried out kicking and screaming.

Diane’s voice was full of panic and cold
anger swept through Jamie’s body.

“Jamie, Ara’s been kidnapped!”

Jamie looked at Aven, and saw Aven knew.

The girl was crying. “I’m too late!”

“We’ve got to get to the Cardinal Unit.”

Aven stared at him, seeing his pain. She
nodded, understanding now that if he didn’t get the procedure to
unpack and offload matter and energy he would die.

The smells of blood, smoke, and melted metal
filled Ara’s senses as she was carried over a shoulder. The person
paused and then stepped over something. They continued and the
smells cleared, something was beeping, there was a sound of a hatch
closing and locking mechanisms, a system of some sort was humming
in the background. No one talked. It was just sounds of machines
and their feet thudding against the metal flooring. She shivered,
feeling chilled now with shock, and it was cold. Her teeth
chattered.

Why didn’t they render her unconscious?

She chided herself, this way she could look
for opportunities to escape. No wonder her guard refused her
requests to go out on her so-called missions. Why hadn’t she paid
more attention and listened to Diane? Typical that Ara’s mind was
so clear now. She was jostled down, and then something covered her,
something warm. She was pushed back onto a soft surface, and then
her hood taken off. It was dark, she couldn’t see and panicked a
little until a hatch opened, light filtered through from a passage,
and a wide figure stepped out and closed the hatch.