Remembrance Page 9

  She didn’t want his praise. She didn’t deserve it. Not the way she felt about that night.

  “I wasn’t in camp when the dire lyx attacked.” Why did I blurt that out? Something about the sadness mixed with gratitude in his too blue eyes made her want to be truthful with him.

  “I know. I’ve read Vargas’ report. It said you were viewing the field of diffodillas.”

  “Not really. I mean, yes. But that wasn’t the only reason. It was… personal too.”

  “Gwelle, you don’t have to explain to me. I wouldn’t have passed up the opportunity either.” His hand hovered over her shoulder before the older man patted her, his understanding easing some of the warring emotions inside her. “Do you feel like taking care of a few of the specimens today?” he tacked on, seeming hesitant. He was probably concerned that she hadn’t rested enough, just like her mom.

  “Of course!” Anything to keep her mind busy, she thought, and pointed out the ones to study.

  Shifting away from thoughts of the past few days, Gwelle spent the next hour nurturing the wilting plants that had jostled around in her pack as she trekked back to the colony. Normally, field specimens were handled with the utmost care while transporting them, but she’d done the only thing she knew to do during the panic. She shoved as many into the packs as she could. She figured if even a couple made it back, then all wouldn’t have been a loss. But how does one not count it a loss when people’s lives had been snatched away?

  The sad thoughts hounded her as she worked throughout the morning playing a vicious game of hide and seek in her head. One moment she would smile over the plants as she punched in features and observations about them into the file she’d created on her plex, and the next it was all she could do to hold back the flood of emotions. A few times throughout the day, she noticed Wyn staring at her, his lips tugged down in concern.

  She threw herself into the work, trying harder to forget the past few days and the devastation it brought. Sure, other colonists had died in the past year. No one had ever said this life would be easy. It wasn’t. Between illness, accidents, predators, and nature itself, they’d lost several members of their community just as they had onboard Deliverance. This was the first time a loss outside family occurred close to her, these were the first deaths that affected her daily life. She knew they’d recover; she’d recover. The people of Nova-Zera were strong. There was a strength born in them. They were survivors. They would remember those they lost, and they would go on. She’d heard these words, chanted them growing up, memorized them, made them part of her. Now she must live by them no matter how hard applying them became over the next few days.

  Gwelle finished classifying the plants, providing their description in the file, and prepared to map the coordinates as she shoved all tumultuous thoughts aside for the time being. Tapping her finger against the counter she waited for the main map file to load on her plex. If it didn’t pop up soon, she’d pull it up on the holoscreen. She’d always been partial to the portable plexes, despite all the advances programmers had made to the larger computers over the past several years. A flash on the small screen caught her eye. Good, it’d loaded, she thought, and grabbed the plex. A few clicks brought up the overlay of the glade, and she zoomed in to where the specimens had been collected.

  A small flashing green dot appeared to one side of the coordinates. Her brow scrunched as her finger hovered over the blinking button. There shouldn’t be an entry here. Their expedition had been the first to the area, or so she’d been told. Normally, notes on a region were added only after an expi or discovery was made. Another moment of hesitation struck her before she jabbed the little dot, her head tilted to one side. She waited for the file to open. A black box popped up, flickered, and disappeared just as quick. She looked back over the map. There were no more little green dots. She hadn’t imagined it. Perhaps it was a glitch or a deleted file, but it made little sense as no expedition had been to that region before.

  After a moment, Gwelle shook her head, clearing the thoughts, and focused on documenting each specimen giving credit to both Kana and Rix if it happened to be their discovery. Clicking heels on the wood floor pulled her attention away from the work in front of her. Lark’s dark curls bounced as her friend weaved between workstations to join her near the back of the lab. For Lark to venture into the lab, looking unsure of herself, she must have been worried. She remembered her friend questioning her choice to go into an elder path, as Lark phrased it. Lark was bubbly, exuberant, energetic, the perfect choice for teaching. But Gwelle knew that while she prided herself on her curiosity and eagerness for discovery, she was reserved and couldn’t imagine standing in front of a crowd, regardless if they were littles or not.

  “Hey! This is a surprise!” Gwelle greeted her friend with a hug, watching Lark look around at the sleek white counters, computer stations, and plants of all kinds filling any empty space.

  Lark’s lips turned down as she placed her hands on her hips before responding in a tone mixed with worry, fear, and anger. “What are you doing here? I went to the clinic and your mom said you were already back at work!”

  Gwelle couldn’t help but notice the slight scrunch of her friend’s nose at the word work.

  “You know me. I’m unstoppable,” Gwelle teased, lightening the mood as Lark’s lips turned up in a not-quite-there smile.

  “You joke, but this is serious this time. What would I do without you?”

  Gwelle noticed the gleam of tears in her friend’s eyes. Lark was always the more sensitive of the two, at least on the outside. Too much of Gwelle’s emotions had been bottled up with her dad’s death. It was easier that way, and until recently she thought that was the way she liked it.

  “For one, you wouldn’t have to traipse off to visit me where old people work?”

  “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you? We were twelve when you chose your career path. Everyone was old to me!”

  “Nope,” Gwelle drawled, making sure the ‘p’ popped as she pronounced it. The girls giggled a moment as Gwelle checked the plants, making sure she’d logged everything on the ones sitting in front of her.

  “So, what was it like?” Lark asked after a moment of watching her friend with a bored expression vying for residence on her expressive features.

  “What was what like?”

  “Being alone with Raiden Vargas for four days… and nights,” Lark whispered, adding the last part in an even lower tone.

  Gwelle’s pulse quickened. Everyone knew they’d been alone for days, and yet she and Raiden couldn’t account for half of them. Surely her mother’s scans would have shown some sort of disorder if it were a physical reason. Shaking the creeping thoughts like spider webs, she glared at her friend a moment. “Is this all you came down here for?”

  Lark shrugged but didn’t respond. Gwelle couldn’t blame her. They’d always shared everything. And in an ideal situation, her best friend would’ve known most of the details of their journey already. Sighing, Gwelle rolled her eyes but leaned in a bit after looking around to see if anyone was listening.

  “Strange.”

  “Good strange? Or bad strange?”

  “Ha! I don’t know. I guess I’ll know more after tonight.”

  “Tonight? What’s tonight?” Lark latched onto that last word, her eyes growing round as her voice raised.

  “I’m meeting him at Bayard’s tonight.”

  “You’ve got a date with Raiden Vargas?” Lark’s high-pitched voice rose an octave as even higher squeals followed the question.

  “Shhh!” Gwelle grimaced when three botanists turned in their direction. “Yes. No! I mean, we’re just meeting there. It’s not like that. We looked out for each other the past cou… few days. It was a scary experience, and we relied on each other to make it through. That’s all there is to it.” The words had sounded so convincing in her head, but not hanging there between them.

  “What are you going to wear?”

  Gwelle lo
oked at her much-too-excited friend for a moment before waving a hand over what she already had on. The look of horror which crossed Lark’s face told her that was obviously not the right answer.

  “No. No. Absolutely, not! When do you get off?”

  “I was just wrapping things up when you came in.”

  “Good. I’ll wait outside.”

  “For what?”

  “To get you a new outfit!” Lark exclaimed as if it should have been obvious.

  Gwelle shook her head but couldn’t help the corners of her lips turning up. Maybe a bit of time with her friend was exactly what she needed. Only if it didn’t have to involve shopping, clothes, and Lark. Those three things were always a volatile combination, Gwelle thought with a shudder walking out into the bright afternoon sun a few minutes later.

  ***

  “What about this one?” Lark held up the fifth dress in a row. Gwelle snarled without meaning to, causing her friend to throw her hands up in frustration. “At this rate, you are going to be going wearing that!”

  “Lark. Really! I’ve already told you. It’s not a date, and I don’t need a new outfit. After all, the best bet is a replicated one as the spun ones are very expensive. I just don’t have those kinds of credits to spare right now. And you can tell a replicate a mile away.”

  “You’re right. Too bad the crops of flax and cotton haven’t come in this year yet. New creations won’t always be this high. Just wait. In a few years, everyone will wear spun outfits daily.”

  “Maybe you missed your path. You should have gone into design.”

  “Maybe,” Lark shrugged. “And maybe you should decide what you’re wearing tonight so we can grab something to eat and go get you ready.”

  “Will this torture never end?” Gwelle mumbled under her breath.

  “What was that?” Lark frowned; a brown-eyed glare leveled directly at Gwelle in mock severity.

  “Will this fun never end?” Gwelle raised her brows and raised her lips in an exaggerated smile.

  “That’s exactly what I thought you said,” Lark teased, linking arms with her ebony haired friend as they made their way through the crowded marketplace.

  An hour later, both girls were sitting at a small round, wooden table under a taut stretched canvas awning, shading them from the late afternoon sun. People sat at the nearby tables chatting and laughing. Things hadn’t changed much from how they were on Deliverance except the setting, Gwelle thought. Any chance to gather and laugh and the inhabitants of their vessel had taken it. The observation deck had been the favored spot aboard their ship. Now the market center had been adopted in its place.

  Lark had been going on about how stubborn Gwelle was but in honesty, she was happy with her small purchase. They’d reached a compromise when she’d found a necklace she loved. Promising to wear her best tunic with snug pants, she’d bought the necklace to add to the outfit. While it wasn’t quite what the fashion savvy Lark had in mind, it was enough to switch the topic to food, which brought them to where they now sat enjoying some baked treats from one of the many food stalls littering the marketplace.

  Gwelle looked down at the large sparkling stone necklace hanging around her neck. She wasn’t sure what the gemstones dangling in a group at the end were, but they were beautiful. And they’d been found right here on Varax, which cemented her love for her new home even more as she fingered them. Looking up from popping a bite in her mouth, she saw the blonde-haired girl from last week weaving between tables.

  “Is that the girl from Endeavor, you know, the one Raiden was talking with?” Lark asked in a near whisper as the girl came closer.

  The smile on Gwelle’s lips slackened a bit. “Yeah.”

  “Who is she?” Lark whispered again.

  Gwelle shrugged.

  “Hi! You’re new. Are you from the Endeavor?” Gwelle’s head shot up at Lark’s words, looking directly into the bluest-blue eyes she’d ever seen. Their color reminded her of the cave walls, twinkling back at her. A smile turned up on the girl’s lips, and she nodded. “I’m Lark and this is my friend, Gwelle. We’re from Deliverance. But of course, you probably know that. Would you like to join us?”

  The poor girl smiled shyly before nodding, and she took the extra seat offered. Her pale blonde hair blew in the breeze. It looked almost silvery white as beams of sun hit it from where it streamed down in small rays between the sheets of the awning overhead. At first she said nothing, eyeing the pastry Lark had plopped in front of her, but just when Gwelle was about to say hi, she spoke.

  Her soft voice sounded almost melodic across the space separating them. “I’m Jexxa. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “And you,” Gwelle mumbled, not sure if the girl was simply shy or years on Endeavor caused her quiet nature. “How are you liking Nova-Zera?”

  “It’s beautiful. And everyone is so friendly,” Jexxa replied as a genuine smile grew on her lips.

  “Did you come down with your parents? Family?” Lark continued the inquisition, wanting to learn more about the new arrival.

  “No. It’s just me.”

  “Oh.” Lark’s usual chattiness dried up.

  There were several young people from Endeavor who’d come down alone. With the way conditions were on the doomed ship, it surprised her that anyone had survived. Having lost their medics in an outbreak only years into the long voyage and then replicator damage and engineering failures a decade later, the inhabitants eked along on reserves and rationing. Sickness and malnourishment plagued their voyage, where Deliverance had enjoyed a thriving society ever trying to advance its current state.

  Gwelle and Lark chatted about daily things, clothes, music, boys and such for the next several minutes. Jexxa said little but listened intently, almost as if everything she heard was new. In a way, Gwelle supposed it was. Life had been very different for her up until this point. She found her eyes wandering, glancing around the market, trying to envision how Jexxa must see everything. A shimmer in the air a few meters away caught her eye as she was turning back around. Tilting her head, her pulse raced. She wondered what caused it. Shorter than the time it took her to blink, it was gone.

  This wasn’t good, she thought as she broke out in a cold sweat. The first couple times, she dismissed the occurrence. But now, after the cave, and the file this morning, could she really dismiss that she was seeing things? There was no way she could say anything. She’d set off a widespread panic. If anyone suspected her–she shuddered not finishing the thought. No, this was something she’d keep to herself and pray she wasn’t right about. If she’d caught what she thought she had, no one in the settlement was safe. She looked up to see those vibrant blue eyes studying her intently, a frown on the blonde girl’s lips.

  “It was very nice meeting you,” Jexxa said, rising as she did.

  “We’ll have to talk again.” Gwelle found herself lost in the girl’s eyes.

  “We most assuredly will,” Jexxa replied, looking straight at her, before heading off into the crowd at a quick pace.

  Chapter Twelve

  Perfect Night

  The thrum of music filled the air, laced with laughter over a din of chatter and dishes. Bayard’s was an entity in its own right, full to the brim of a cross-section of Nova-Zera’s citizens. She’d forgotten how busy it became at night or she might not have suggested they meet here. Being one of the few entertainment options in the colony, there wouldn’t have been many other choices had she not. Raiden stood, waving her over to a table in one corner of the large rectangular room. A low stage took up space against the opposite side of the building from where she’d entered. Dim lights hung from exposed metal beams overhead as she weaved between tables until she reached the darkened corner.

  Raiden stared as she approached, a half-smile, half-smirk playing on his lips. Second guesses ran through her mind as fast as her feet were carrying her closer. Should she be here? With him? Was it wise? Maybe buying a new outfit wouldn’t have been that big a deal. Lark would be gloating
if she could hear her train of thought. The last one tugged her lips up in a small smile despite the nerves playing chase in her stomach.

  “You look amazing,” Raiden whispered in her ear as he held her chair for her to be seated. He took the chair across from her, her heart racing by his nearness.

  She blinked, shaking herself from her thoughts when he asked if she was ready to order. Neither said much as they ordered and waited on their food and drinks, a shyness washing over her that she’d never felt. Gwelle didn’t know why or where it came from. They’d been friends for most of their school years. He’d seen her at her worst, both physically and emotionally. But now it was different. Now she cared what he thought. The revelation struck her hard causing the soft smile to slip from her face. She wasn’t supposed to care. She swore she’d never care what he thought or said ever again. The oath had poured from her lips while she was young, naïve, and hurt. She was none of those things now. At least she didn’t think so. She was not as young or as naïve. And hurt? She prodded her heart and wondered where all the pain had gone. Most of it had evaporated like the mists with the morning sun. What remained stung but was by no means what it had been days before.

  Could she afford to put her trust in the boy across from her? The honest answer, the one she really didn’t want to admit, was that she already had. Sometime over the past few days running for their lives perhaps, but looking over at him, she knew better. The moment he’d led her into the field glowing with night blooms, she’d let him back in. She glanced at the plate in front of her not remembering when it had shown up.

  “How did your day go?” Raiden’s voice was deep and warm, filled with concern.

  “I tried to work and not think about… it… too much.”

  “Me too.” She pushed the food around her plate a minute before looking up at him under her lashes. She opened her mouth and closed it, hesitating for a moment before continuing.

  “Something strange happened at work today. It’s probably nothing though.” She tacked the last part on as Raiden’s head shot up.