Target 10 S2.4 The Chair
As if in response to her question, the space before her transformed from the empty room to an overview of Haven from high above.
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As if in response to her question, the space before her transformed from the empty room to an overview of Haven from high above. It was like she hovered in the air looking down at the landscape. Below her was Havenstar, dominating the landmass, which broke off into smaller islands to the west, and open ocean in the east. Her view shifted towards the islands as the map rotated beneath her.
At least she assumed she was looking at some sort of realistic map. I'm not actually flying over the planet. Though who knows? Maybe this system can project a consciousness anywhere. All sense of her physical body was gone, and it seemed the world was being revealed to her. She gave herself over to the experience, doing her best to let go of her questions about how it was happening.
The first islands grew in size as she dropped in altitude. Waterfalls, forests, and rocky surfaces with life just starting to take hold flew by her. A hulking volcanic island appeared on the horizon, sped closer, then slowed as she approached. Thick, orange and blue lava dripped down the steep flanks, steaming as it rolled into the sea.
She sped up again, crossing over a coastline dotted with volcanoes that eased into a dense forest before becoming an open savanna. Clumps of red and purple-leaved trees grew in a crystalline pattern, spreading outward as if on a mission to take over the grassland.
Her direction changed northward, hugging the line where the forest met the savanna. She crossed a series of lakes, waterfalls feeding from one to the other before emptying into a wide rapids-filled river heading east towards the ocean on her right.
The beauty of the planet awed her. Other than the beaches of Azu, and the occasional trip with her parents, she'd always preferred a cozy chair and her computers over being outside. She'd been to so many places, but now realized she'd never really seen them.
How much have I missed?
Past the lakes, an impenetrable sea of green forest stretched out before her. A column of rock, thousands of meters high, emerged out of the treetops like a great sea snake lunging straight up for its prey. The peak had bumps and notches resembling a gaping mouth. She'd never seen anything like it. It was larger and higher than the plateaus on Azu, and taller than the deepest rifts on Dinucent.
She continued to rush towards it. Just when she thought she was going to smash into the side, her direction abruptly changed and she was moving up, parallel to the surface. Ledges with green, yellow, and purple plants dotted the sides. She entered a mist that clouded her sight. When she popped out of it, a blue shimmering waterfall rose another thousand meters above her. The water never reaches the ground? She struggled to understand how the water transformed into mist rather than a pool at the base of the cliff. But the thoughts didn't linger. Like a kick from an engine booster, she sped up again, flying high above the top, looking down.
She saw the summit wasn't a single mountain, but a range of mountains ringing the edge of the enormous column. She descended to just a few hundred meters above the snow-covered peaks. Inside the ring of mountains, the ground dropped steeply into a valley. Lakes of iridescent blue scattered across the valley and green patches she assumed were grassy fields stretched around the base of the mountains. Her view dropped into the valley, coasting over the largest lake. Clustered around it were purple spirals that interwove together, creating a continuous serious of loops. She questioned whether it was one plant or many, but again, she had no time to contemplate the nature of Haven's plant life.
Suddenly she was a hundred meters above the fields on the western end of the ring. A shimmering half-sphere, much like the field that surrounded Havenstar, covered a wide circle on the ground. The circle looked to be made of the same stuff as Havenstar's exterior. In an instant, her view dropped through the circle, and she was back in the entry way where she'd started.
It's a second site. She felt her hands release as her mind ran through everything she'd seen. No. I want to see more. The chair gripped her again, but she remained in the entryway. It seemed as if the rest of the site was disconnected. She couldn't move forward.
Buzz-buzz. The distant sound drew her attention, pulling her back into the Demption.
Damn! She deactivated the alarm.
"Is everything all right, Reby?" Aida's voice broke what she realized had been a long, intense silence.
"Were you able to follow any of what just happened?"
"I received data on a geological and geographical survey of the planet and the coordinates of a site protected by an energy shield like the one you're in now. Would you like my analysis of the information?"
"Yes, later." I can't be late. She returned her focus to the room around her and slid off the chair, taking a few steps toward the lift. Her body buzzed, even more than when she'd first used the chair. It was more intense, like she'd had way too many Bolis. Worse. A long-buried memory popped into her mind. It was visceral, overwhelming, and for the briefest of moments she feared a similar comedown from the chair. This is different. Nothing like the Mez.
She trembled, the realization of what she'd just done pushing her deepest shame back into the darkest recesses of her mind. There will be a comedown. Probably worse than the first time in the chair. She shook off the concern, took a deep breath and went to the lift.
Outside the transporter, she hesitated. RJ's going to analyze me again. He'll be upset I went in for so long. Strangely, the idea of him being overly concerned with her health wasn't annoying. It should've been. Part of her wanted it to be. The rest wanted to have that talk Jemy said they should have. But it would have to wait. First, she needed to tell them about the second site. She took another deep breath, pushed her shoulders back, and went to tell the boys the amazing news.
***
"That, was disgusting," RJ said, dropping a small fabric bag onto the table in the lounge. It made a squishing sound and he cringed. His bare forearm shone in the afternoon sunlight, a slick green goo coating it from fingertips to just above the elbow.
When Clay had asked him if he wanted to harvest the tubular growths around the base of a tree, it'd been clear the man expected him to say no. So naturally he'd said yes. It wasn't until he was covered up to his elbow that Clay explained the goo was a nutritionally dense sweetener. And that it was created from the regurgitation of those flying insects they all had to avoid spooking. So gross. At least it doesn't smell.
Jemy smirked at him from the opposite side of the table, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "I think you got more on you than in the bag."
"You do it next time." RJ held his arm out, looking for something — anything—to clean it with.
Clay picked up the bag from the opposite side of the table. "I think perhaps I should handle harvesting the milip from now on. Your help is appreciated, RJ, but I can do it with less waste." He cradled the goo-bag in his hands as he carried it over to a box resting on a low pedestal, just past Jemy.
"That's fine with me." RJ used his clean hand to pull out a thin towel from a pocket. As he wiped off the goo, he kept his eye on Clay. The man had been intensely concerned about it the whole time RJ had been harvesting, then carrying it. Nutritionally dense sweetener, my ass.
Clay lifted the top of the container and gingerly placed the bag inside. It was a brown box, one with a slightly reflective material.
RJ tensed. He looked at Jemy, who frowned at him. "So Clay," he said, choosing to ignore Jemy, "the room Reby and I were trapped in was filled with human-made stuff. Is that where you put the salvage from your ship?"
Jemy put his head in his hands.
Clay closed the box, then turned back toward RJ. "Salvage?"
"Yeah. You know, all the stuff that wasn't destroyed in your crash. You said you had no power, but it couldn't have been a total loss. You survived, after all."
"Yes. Yes, of course. But no, I don't have any idea what is in that room."
RJ gave up cleaning and tossed the goo-covered towel onto the table. "You'd never been there before?"
"No." Clay's brown eyes narrowed. "I had Obi to guide me, to help me create this." He spread his arms to indicate the lounge. "I've never explored Havenstar the way you have."
But I bet you did. RJ looked between the box and Clay. "What about when you went to get Marisil? Did you look in the room then?"
Clay dropped his gaze and turned to the side as if composing himself. "My only concern was Marisil." His voice was low, and cold.
"About her. Are you sure I can't take a look? I am a mechanical engineer. I might be able to fix her body, and Reby could help with her programming."
"No. She's gone, crushed by the nihtgen."
"Since you're only a biologist, you might not realize that's exactly the sort of thing mechanical engineers do. I've rebuilt or designed hundreds of chassis and internal components—"
"She's dead!" Clay clenched his fists.
RJ took a half step back.
Jemy sat up straight.
Clay turned toward them, his body relaxing. "I disintegrated her once I knew she couldn't connect to Havenstar."
"You what?" RJ frowned and raised his hands. "Why would you do that?"
Jemy stood up. "Okay," he said, lingering on the 'kay'. "Let's not argue. I'm sure Clay did what he thought was best. Let's get back to work on the harvest." He pointed to the pile of fruits at the end of the table. "What's next? Do we prep them or something?"
Clay looked at the pile, then back to Jemy, and sighed. "Yes. A few need—"
"I'm going to the shuttle to clean up." RJ grabbed the towel.
"RJ..."
He didn't let Jemy's 'be reasonable' tone stop him. He didn't stop even when he heard the steps behind him, or when Jemy walked along next to him in the silence. They were about halfway out of the lounge, surrounded by the wall of trees, when Jemy grabbed his arm.
"Stop. Please."
He took another half step before stopping.
They stood together, not looking at each other for a few moments.
"What were you doing?" Jemy finally asked, keeping his voice low. "I thought we were all getting along for once, that you finally let go of your suspicions about him."
RJ turned to Jemy. Everything he wanted to say jumbled and piled up so that nothing came out. Just get straight to it. "The box he put the milip in. It's the same as the boxes in that room. You remember? The ones that are hundreds of years old? He's lying when he said he hadn't been there. And he disintegrated Marisil?" RJ shook his head and rolled his eyes. "He's not right."
Jemy's jaw tightened like he was holding back words he was afraid to say. RJ felt a sharp pang in his chest. Their friendship used to be so easy. Another reason to hate Clay.
"Why not just ask him about the box? Why try to trick him or be so, so hostile?"
"I was just trying to get answers."
Jemy sighed. "I know. But there are plenty of potential answers to the question 'Where did you get the box?'"
"Yeah, right."
"No, really. This place is enormous! Maybe there are other rooms like that. Maybe the aliens here liked old human stuff, maybe they collected it or something but left it behind. Maybe others have crashed here over the thousands of years the star has been here. Or maybe he has been to that room but doesn't remember."
"Not likely."
"How do you know? Do you remember every room or box you've ever seen?"
RJ shuffled his feet.
"I didn't think so. Look, I feel like we keep having this conversation." Jemy rubbed his temples. "I know you don't like him, but I think he deserves our sympathy. He's been alone for a long time. And I know you understand that people sometimes don't always act like themselves. Whatever the reason."
RJ looked away. His face turned red. Jemy didn't have to say what he was referring to.
"And Marisil. Drop it. Clearly she meant more to Clay than just a machine that helped pick fruit. She was his only companion until we showed up."
Drop it. He breathed in and out. "Fine." With the word came resignation and his shoulders dropped. He didn't want to argue with Jemy. "I'll give the weirdo the benefit of the doubt." Though I don't believe for a second he disintegrated his girlfriend.
Jemy raised his eyebrow.
"I'll give Clay the benefit of the doubt. You know if you ever get tired of archaeology, you should consider becoming a diplomat. You have a knack for making people agree to things they don't want to do."
"I don't think so," Jemy chuckled. "My mediator skills only work on longtime friends and family."
"You're better than you think." RJ tapped him on the chest. "But the happy reunion will have to wait. I really need to get this crap off me." He held up his forearm. And I need some time away from Mr. Weirdo.
"Sure. I'll make your excuses, smooth things over."
"Yeah, yeah." RJ took a few steps towards the exit.
Their nexoes buzzed at the same time.
RJ rolled his eyes. "I guess cleanliness will have to wait. Time for check-in."
As he and Jemy walked back to the lounge, all thoughts of the box disappeared. Where has she been all this time? His pace increased, not quite matching the faster beat of his heart.
***
Reby was already chatting with Clay at the table when Jemy and RJ emerged from the trees. Relief washed over Jemy when he saw her. Everyone's ok.
"Glad you could make it," Reby jabbed at them, her eyes beaming.
He knew that smile, that twinkle in her eye. He put his hand on RJ's arm to stop an undoubtedly sarcastic reply. "You've found something?" He asked, forcing himself to breathe.
Her smile grew wider, and she nodded. "Take a seat."
He dropped onto the stool across from her, next to Clay. His foot tapped against the floor, the anticipation building in his chest.
RJ sat next to her, dragging the seat close enough that their elbows touched. "What is it?"
"There's another site. On the other side of the planet. It's, well, I don't know how to describe where it is except, amazing," Reby said.
"Where it is is amazing, or it is amazing?" RJ asked, leaning forward on the table.
Reby rolled her eyes. "Where it is. I couldn't actually see what the site was. It felt like it was dormant or something, but I could tell it was underground and the entrance was covered with a shield like the one over Havenstar."
"But it's not a structure like this one?" Jemy asked.
"Not like this one, but there's definitely something there."
"Do you know anything about a second site, Clay?"
Jemy tensed when RJ asked the question. His friend's tone hadn't moderated much from the hostile exchange they'd had only a few minutes ago. He hadn't had a chance yet to smooth things over.
Clay shifted in his seat, then looked at Reby. "No. I've never been anywhere but here."
Jemy jumped in before RJ could follow up with another argumentative comment. "I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, Reb. Why don't you start at the beginning?" He gave RJ a stern look, who replied with a small roll of his head as he relaxed back on his stool.
Reby took a big breath, then recounted her experience in the chair. She shushed RJ several times when he tried to interrupt, but allowed him to run his analyzer to make sure she was ok.
Jemy listened, fascinated by the experience. But his mind glossed over the geology Reby described and focused on why the Obexpl would have built there. And why it would be dormant when Havenstar was fully operational, if empty. Perhaps it isn't empty?
"We've got to go check it out!" He blurted, interrupting Clay asking about the plants she'd seen on her journey. "Sorry, Clay. But we need to go see if there is anything left behind... more than an empty shell with lights."
"Empty shell? Havenstar is an alien structure! It proves you were right all along. What else could you need?" RJ shrugged and tilted his head.
"I've got enough to prove non-human civilization existed. Here, on this planet." He breathed deeply, the words he needed to say not wanting to come out. The truth of them, though, had settled in on him during his weeks of studying Havenstar. But it was as if saying them out loud was another admission of failure, just like the ones that got him kicked out of the Academy. "I can't link any of it to the artifacts from the other worlds. There isn't enough context here. Just some symbols scattered about that don't match anything. If they left things in situ at this other site, I might be able to draw connections. That's what I really need to prove I was right."
"What if they aren't the same non-human race?" Clay asked.
Jemy shifted his feet and brushed his hair back from his face. "I'm afraid that might be true. And if it is, this discovery won't get my reputation, or my position, back. Don't get me wrong," he leaned back from the table, "it's incredible. And I'm excited to be the first one to document it. But without a connection, I'll always be wrong in the eyes of the Academy."
Something deep within him rebelled against the thought he was wrong. He knew he was right. Even a few of his doubters had told him privately he was on to something. But they wouldn't stand up for him in public. He'd have to prove it on his own.
"Maybe this will change things," Reby said, reaching across the table to grab his hand. "Their arguments hinged on the fact no non-human civilization had ever been found. Well, here it is. They can't deny it. That has to change some minds, wouldn't it?"
He nodded, giving her hand a squeeze before pulling back. "I would hope so. But we know so little about the Obexpl. Perhaps the other site can give me more to go on, so I can go back with a complete profile and theories on who they were and why they left."
"Why not use the chair and ask?"
Clay seemed full of blunt questions, ones that seemed designed to keep them from going to the second site. "We tried that early on and got nowhere." Jemy said.
"Perhaps something has changed. Even when Obi was here, the chair never responded to me the way Reby describes."
"Maybe he's right," RJ said. "You did say it felt like you were being guided, right?" He turned to look at Reby.
"Definitely." Reby nodded.
Jemy noticed her voice had dropped. The energy she'd had when telling them the story had gone. "Then I agree we should try the chair again, but you don't look up to it, Reb."
"No. I'm just a little tired after my trip." She gave a weak laugh. "I think trying the chair is a good idea, though I have the sense that if it doesn't want you to see something, you aren't going to see it. We should plan a trip to site two, no matter how that goes."
"Agreed," RJ said. "The three of us can go check it out after Reby gets some rest."
Clay looked up, his eyes narrowing at RJ's words.
Jemy felt the tension around the table increase tenfold. He's probably afraid we'll leave him behind.
Reby furrowed her brows and shook her head at RJ. "I'm staying here." She waved her hand from Jemy to RJ. "You two will have to go alone."
***
RJ frowned at Reby. "What do you mean you're staying here?"
"You know what I mean."
"But why?" RJ pressed, a coldness settling inside him. "Don't you want to see this other site?"
Reby swiveled on her stool to look at him straight on. "Of course I do. But it makes more sense to have someone here to bridge between Aida, Havenstar, the shuttle and the second site. We don't know what we'll get into there, but we have to assume communications between the shuttle and Aida will disappear once you're inside that shield. I think I could connect with our comms through the chair so we can stay in contact while you explore."
"I don't like the idea of you being in the chair the entire time we're there. You look exhausted after these last few hours," Jemy said.
"So I won't stay the entire time. We can have regular check-ins once you've gotten inside." She rubbed her forehead, her eyelids drooping.
"That's it for now. We can organize later. You need to rest." RJ put the analyzer back in his pocket.
"I'm fine."
"The analyzer says different. Nothing a good nap won't fix, though." RJ pulled Reby up with his clean hand.
"I can get there myself."
"Of course you can. But I need to go clean this gunk off, so we're going in the same direction." RJ winked at her.
She shook her head at him, but leaned onto his arm.
He couldn't help but smile.
"I'm going to stay here a bit," Jemy said.
RJ nodded at him.
Reby gave a weak hand wave.
"Have a good rest, Reby," Clay said as RJ led her away.
Without you, she'll be fine.
"Thank you," she said.
A few steps forward and RJ moved her arm over his shoulders and put his arm around her waist. Though she was taller and leaned on him more with each step, he barely noticed her weight. He did feel Clay's eyes burning on this back as they passed into the tree-lined pathway and out of sight.
So many things popped into his mind. It felt like the perfect time to tell her how he felt, but also the worst. He could feel her tiredness, and he'd seen it on the analyzer. Instead, he said nothing, letting a comfortable silence settle between them until they got to the ship.
By the time they got to the bunk room, he was convinced she was already asleep. He'd swooped her up in the transporter when her eyes closed. Her head resting on his shoulder, she hadn't stirred as they clanged through the ship to her bed.
He bent down, placing her on the bed. But her arms around his neck didn't let go.
Her eyes opened, and she kissed him. It was a gentle, fleeting kiss. When she pulled away, she kept her arms around him and smiled. "We're ok, RJ." Her right hand caressed the side of his face, brushing back the chaotic locks of hair that had grown too long. "We just need to talk."
As she finished the words, her arms went limp and her head dropped onto the pillow, finally asleep.
RJ sat next to her and held one of her hands. His eyes watered and his heart ached with hope that the moment had been real. That it wasn't some energy sapped induced delusion she didn't actually mean.
But she kissed me. That was real. A smile bright enough to light even the darkness recesses of Dinucent crossed his face. He kissed her forehead before standing up and doing a twirl in the small space between bunks. He grabbed a change of clothes and danced all the way to the showers.