Remembrance Read online

  “Did you see who it was?”

  “No. I didn’t have a good angle and couldn’t open the door wider.”

  “What now?” she whispered, still afraid at any moment the man would be back.

  “Now we have to get out of here.” She nodded. After this incident, her adventure streak may be calming down quite a bit, she thought.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Questions

  Raiden and Gwelle crept back up the stairs without further incident. The archives were quiet. Nothing but the sound of their feet hurrying to the back door could be heard on the polished wood floors. No one would have known two individuals plotting a double murder were just there. Who would want Kana and Rix dead? They were little more than kids, just two or three years her senior. Her stomach twisted, knots formed. She’d gotten in her share of trouble throughout her young life. She’d had fun doing it too, she wouldn’t lie, but this – this was beyond anything she’d ever faced.

  They reached the back door after what felt like an eternity, although it was little more than a couple minutes. Raiden’s sudden stop caused Gwelle to smack straight into his hard back. Raiden pushed on the door again, but it didn’t budge.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s locked.” There was none of the shock she felt reflected in Raiden’s level tone.

  “Can you open it?”

  “I don’t have clearance to unlock communal buildings.” Gwelle eyed the touchpad next to the door. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.” Before she had a chance to object, she was watching Raiden’s back move further into the darkened building until she only heard his distant footsteps. She heard him returning some moments later, turning from where she had been pacing along the darkened corridor. Gwelle lifted one brow in a silent question. Raiden shook his head.

  “Front is locked too. And even if we could get out that way, there’s too many people milling about in that direction.” Gwelle’s shoulders slumped at the news, but a pecking sound made her jump. She turned around and saw Knox’s face through the glass of the back door. The big lopsided grin he wore was a welcome sight but didn’t fix their problem. Knox held up a finger before disappearing.

  “What’s he doing?”

  “I have no idea. But it being Knox, there’s no telling. Could be good, could be really bad,” Raiden whispered. While his tone was still serious, there was quirk to his lips. A long, drawn-out beep emitted from the touchpad before a light flashed red, then green. A loud click sounded just before the door swung in. Knox’s shaggy blonde head filled the now open space.

  “Are you two going to stand there googling at each other all day or come on?” Gwelle rolled her eyes feeling heat rise in her cheeks but wasted no more time slipping out the door. Raiden was on her heels as they jogged down the steps, the click of the door locking behind them. She felt him take her hand tugging her to a stop as they rounded the corner of a building a few rows over. Knox ran up with Lark trailing behind him. Leaning back against the building, Gwelle let the shock of what they’d just seen and heard finally wash over her, more fully realizing they’d just stumbled upon something they shouldn’t have. Shaking hands covered her face, before Raiden brought them down, holding them in his strong ones.

  “It’s alright, Gwelle.”

  “No…”

  “What were you two doing in there?” Knox asked.

  “It’s better you not know, both of you,” Raiden said, looking between their two friends. The smile Knox always seemed to wear slipped a little now.

  “How did you know we were in there?” Gwelle asked, trying to shake the nervousness she’d felt since viewing the files.

  “We saw you two slip off and decided to follow you,” Knox replied.

  “Did you see anyone else enter or leave while we were there?” Raiden asked, his voice urgent and low.

  “No.”

  “But you said you followed us.” Gwelle glanced back and forth between Lark and Knox. Lark avoided her eyes while Knox shrugged.

  “We got a little distracted for a few minutes.” Gwelle watched Raiden rake his hands through his dark hair while Lark tried ignoring Knox’s broad smile.

  “Are you two going to tell us what’s going on?” Lark asked, finally speaking up.

  “The better question is how does Knox know how to bypass secured locks?” Gwelle said.

  “Hey! I’ve got skills. I just don’t always choose to use them.” Raiden chuckled at Knox’s reply, but it sounded forced. Gwelle saw the tightness in his movements as he tried to act like everything was normal.

  “For now, its best you two forget you saw us in the archives. You were nowhere near here either, if anyone asks,” Raiden cautioned.

  “Are you in some kind of trouble?” Lark asked, her brows drawing together.

  “We don’t know yet. But it's best if we don’t drag you in it.”

  “Too late for that. Now what’s really going on?” Lark’s normally timid, calm demeanor vanished as she placed her hands on her hips. Raiden looked at the petite girl in front of them and then back to Gwelle.

  “Alright. We’ll tell you but not here. Not now. Meet us tonight after the feast at my place,” Raiden whispered. “Gwelle and I will fill you in then. Right now, we have to go check on something. See you back at the festival in a few minutes. And remember, you weren’t here.” It wasn’t until she watched Knox and Lark walk off that Gwelle realized she’d be going over to Raiden’s house later at night, where he lived, alone. Despite fear tingling inside her over what they’d discovered, another very different set of fears took root. She’d never thought about visiting the small house where Raiden lived. What would it be like, she wondered as he tugged her further away from the archives? Tamping down her nerves, she focused on the task at hand.

  “Where are we going?”

  “The clinic.” Raiden’s stern voice sent chills through her. She’d almost forgot the threat she’d heard. The threat on Kana and Rix’s lives.

  Her feet picked up pace to match Raiden’s hurried steps. It was strange seeing Nova-Zera empty, quiet. With everyone at or around the commons, the streets were bare, no buzz of activity, no one to see them running through the colony now at full speed. They rounded the corner of the clinic, and Raiden yanked the door open, holding it as she entered.

  The room spun a minute after she paused just inside, glancing around. All was quiet minus the beeps from the bio-beds near the end of the long room. Partitions were pulled around the beds, hiding the occupants, but she knew Kana and Rix were the only long-term patients at the clinic. No medics or interns were in sight at that moment, but they weren’t far, she was sure.

  Her feet echoed with a clip-clop down the aisle where shiny white bio-beds sat on each side, waiting for the odd cold, a broken leg, or maybe a stomachache from eating way too much food today. On rare occasions, they were all full. There’d only been one outbreak since the colony opened but being prepared was better than not. Building a new life on a new planet had its ups and downs. Sickness and accidents came with it. It was just the way it was.

  She looked down on Kana’s still body, draped in a therawrap. Her normally pale skin was even more pallid under the blinking hololights of the bio-bed. Raiden walked between the beds and slid the partition back which separated Rix and Kana. Both botanists were still, their bio-beds holding them in stasis until they woke from their injuries and could shed some more light on what happened after camp was attacked.

  “They look stable. What now?” Raiden raked his hand down his face at Gwelle’s question.

  “I don’t know. We can’t stay with them around the clock. Maybe we should speak to your mom.”

  “No. I don’t want to bring mom into this. She doesn’t need more trouble on her plate. Besides, what are we supposed to say? We broke into the archives and overheard two people say something that we couldn’t clearly hear, but which sounded like a threat to Kana and Rix, we think.” Gwelle’s brows shot up as she talked. She wasn’t involving her mom wh
o had already had more heartache and trouble to last her a lifetime.

  “We have proof, maybe not of the conversation, but we saw the files.”

  “Raiden, we saw them. But we don’t have any proof, remember? We’d have to break back in to download the deleted files. I’ve had enough adventure for one day.”

  “You’re right. But… we can’t ignore this. You know as well as I what we heard. Whoever we heard talking meant harm. We have to find out to exactly who and why before it’s too late.”

  “I agree. And if they had anything to do with the missing files.”

  “So, for now, this is just between us?”

  “And Knox and Lark it looks like.” Gwelle shook her head. She didn’t want to involve her two friends but knew there was no way around it now.

  “Alright, let’s head back to the festival. I’m sure your mom is probably wondering where you are.” She glanced back at her colleagues one last time before following Raiden to the door. They hadn’t taken more than a few steps back towards the celebration when Jade Asama turned the corner directly in front of them.

  “Good day, Councilwoman Asama,” Raiden said to the older woman respectfully as they passed by. Rix Asama hadn’t followed in his mother’s footsteps by entering government like each of the Asama’s before him choosing botany instead. The Asama family had helped run their society aboard Deliverance as controlling party of the corporation which funded the enormous exodus project. She’d never seen Jade Asama when the dark-haired, middle aged woman didn’t look competent and sure. She was strong and powerful among their people, but today she looked more like a worried mother. Gwelle supposed her steely outward shell was just one part of her, and there really was a person beneath it.

  “Good day, Gwelle. Specialist Vargas.” Beyond the pleasantries murmured in passing, no other exchange took place between them. But Gwelle couldn’t help looking over her shoulder as they walked on down the path. She watched the tall, dignified woman walk into the clinic they’d just left choosing to visit her son while the colony enjoyed a day of feasting. Sadness tugged at Gwelle wishing there was something she could do to make all this go away. After today, she wasn’t sure just what it would take for that to happen though.

  ***

  Walking back into the middle of the celebration was surreal for Gwelle after what had just happened. Sights, scents, and sounds bombarded her on all sides, but Raiden’s warm hand grounded her. They’d spent the rest of the afternoon with Knox, Lark and Jexxa playing games and entering contests. Jexxa had wandered over to their little group not long after they returned to the festivities wearing the aqua blue dress and smiling broadly. Seeing her happy made the loss of the credits she’d been saving a bit easier. Looking up from her thoughts, her mom smiled across the table where she sat next to the fair-haired Wyn Maxon. Jexxa sat across from Lark, next to her mom with Raiden and Knox on either side of her and her best friend.

  The long trestle tables had been constructed just for today and now filled the entire commons with all manner of food, from wild game roasted over open-air pits to fruits and vegetables grown here in the gardens and agriculture fields. She watched as her mom laughed at something Wyn said. Both heartache and happiness fought for a prominent space in her mind. A frown tugged her lips down as she picked at the roasted vegetables on her plate.

  “I miss him too,” Raiden whispered in her ear, his hand squeezing her leg a moment under the long table. Her eyes darted back to her mom then to the ebony haired boy at her side.

  “I know. You’ve lost more than anyone here and yet you’re always willing to listen, to help, to understand anyone who needs it.” Gwelle shot him a genuine smile, and she watched Raiden’s head duck to look at his lap unused to hearing the praise.

  “It’s alright to feel the way you do, Gwelle. But remember, being happy doesn’t mean you’ve stopped missing him or stopped loving him. That goes for your mom as well.” Raiden’s quiet words caused the smile to slip from her lips just a bit, but there was honest, wise truth in them.

  “I know. Thanks. For everything.” Raiden smiled at her and snatched a piece of fruit off her plate. “Hey! That’s mine.” Nia laughed across the table as did her friends around them.

  “What’s all this laughter over here? Sounds like someone’s having a good time.”

  “We are.” Nia smiled at the imposing man standing a little to one side and behind Gwelle. Glancing back, she watched his grim face soften at her mom’s words. She felt uncomfortable in his presence, almost like the ancients must have felt when thinking about their gods. He was the power behind Nova-Zera. Commander Corsin was Nova-Zera for all intents and purposes, despite the council and the original colonization mission being funded by the Asama’s and their company over three generations ago. No one alive now remembered that, but they did remember Corsin sending out drone after drone ensuring a new world was found. They remembered the great man leading the first naissance party to the surface determining exactly where their new settlement would be built and their wandering over. That was what officially cemented his non-approachable god-like status in her young mind.

  “Would you care to join us, Commander?” Wyn asked as Corsin’s eyes flicked over the head scientist, taking in the way one arm lay casually on the back of Nia’s chair before shaking his head.

  “No. You all enjoy your evening. I’ve got a few more hellos to make before I’m going to try some of that pie,” Commander Corsin said, pointing over at Knox’s plate which held three large pieces of homemade pie, flaky crust and all.

  “If there’s any left,” Nia chirped.

  Lark leaned over helping herself to a bite of one of the fruit filled pastries much to Knox’s displeasure. The commander chuckled and slung a one-handed wave as he walked off into the crowd. Laughter and small talk continued as the evening sun sank beyond the horizon and their twin moons rose higher in the sky. Their benevolent light filtered down on the inhabitants of planet as the tables were removed and the low stage filled with musicians. The entire commons became one large dance space as couples, young and old, started swaying to the music filling the night air.

  “She looks happier than I’ve seen her in a long time,” Raiden whispered as he wrapped an arm around Gwelle tugging her to his side. Focusing on his words instead of the trilling warmth curling through her, she followed his gaze across the clearing to where her mom and Wyn danced looking more vibrant and youthful than she had just weeks before.

  “She does.” Gwelle’s lips turned down despite the happy scene playing out in front of her.

  “Does it bother you?”

  “No. She deserves a bit of happiness.” And she meant it, despite a tug inside wanting to say otherwise.

  “So do you,” Raiden whispered in her ear before yanking on her arm.

  “What are you doing?” She tried sounding upset but couldn’t, not with the excitement bubbling inside her as he led her forward wrapping both arms around her as they started swaying with the music.

  “What’s it look like? I’m dancing with my girl.” Raiden’s words sent a burst of warmth through her. They hadn’t discussed the future. They hadn’t even discussed what this thing, whatever it was, that drew them back together was. But at that moment she didn’t care. Raiden’s arms were around her, warmth filled her heart, and music vibrated through her. Nothing else mattered at that moment. She’d face everything else later.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Warnings

  “So you broke into the core to prove Gwelle wasn’t crazy. But happened to get locked in after listening to a plot by two unknowns to murder two botanists who are laying on their deathbeds already?” Lark’s soft voice summed up most of what Raiden had just finished explaining.

  The four friends sat in Raiden’s small kitchen around the wooden table which matched the dark wood beams that framed the walls and ceiling. The only light on was the one over the dining area they now sat in. It had been a long day and an even longer night. Gwelle stifled a yawn,
focusing on the conversation around her. The morning would come early, and if her mom realized she’d snuck out after returning home from the festival, there’d be no rest for her.

  “The real question we should be asking is why,” Knox said. “Who were these two people and why do they want Kana and Rix dead? They’re botanists!” Knox’s emphasis on the last word made the thought sound ludicrous to Gwelle.

  “Hey! I’m a botanist! Don’t snarl your nose like it’s a lame job,” Gwelle interrupted.

  “Not lame, just… boring.” Knox scrunched his nose on the last word.

  “But that doesn’t answer the question. These two men…” Lark started but was interrupted when Raiden spoke over her.

  “Not men. One man, one woman.” Gwelle’s head shot up looking him in the eye.

  “Are you sure?” she asked.

  “Yeah. I couldn’t make out but every couple words. But there was definitely a man with a deep voice and a higher pitched voice. It had to be a woman.” How had she missed that? Probably the fear of being discovered hid most of what was happening outside the small, confined space they’d been pressed into.

  “So this man and woman want Kana and Rix dead. They were just with you on that expedition. Did anything happen while you were OTG?” Lark continued, having always been the voice of logic as far back as Gwelle could remember.

  “Other than the dire lyx attack? Nothing,” Raiden said, looking straight at Gwelle.

  “Other than finding the secret cave, that is.” Knox added, repeating what Raiden had told him early about their escape into the forest and coming across the strange cave.

  “Yeah, but that was afterwards.”

  “Maybe it’s all linked. A deleted mission file, a cave on a mapped area that’s not on the map, now the botanists who made it back are wanted dead.” Everyone looked at Lark then back to Raiden.

  “Then there’s the other files you found. All deleted. Just like that first one. Someone is hiding something.”