Log 1 Matter | Antimatter (39 page)

Peter nodded and headed back.

Jamie took one more glance over the huge
cavity and stopped dead. He was sure he saw one of the Snakes down
there—no, the hair was too white, and … was that … Korbet? Peter
called him, and the two males Jamie had been trying to identify
entered some tunnel, so Jamie joined Peter, ready to give him a leg
up. His inner voice was too loud and he needed to focus on getting
out safely first. “We’d better resort to old tech.”

“Pen and paper, boss?”

Jamie grinned at him. “Yep, I have a feeling
those bastards will pick up any device we might use.” But a chill
ran through him thinking of the pad and pen Simon had given him
just before his final test, along with several comments Jamie had
heard throughout his working life. He knew he wasn’t privy to all
the secrets, and he was just the Sentinel for Ara, but he worried
that they were withholding information that he might need. He’d
talk to Diane when he returned. He put a foot on Peter’s hands.
“Use our contact to ask Ara to make us a mole NaPP.”

“Roger.”

As they slid back along the tunnel ceiling,
Jamie was deep in thought and tried to ignore the queasiness. Would
it be cheating if he told Ara about the tests beforehand? What sort
of consequences would arise from him revealing the tests? He had to
think about it carefully and he couldn’t trust anyone with this.
Amusingly, unlike many of the twists in the actual protective duty
and missions he had performed over the years where time was always
a factor, time was the one thing he had going for him. It was a
little odd to him but Pure-Gen perceptions about the concept of
time were divergent to most.

While at work thirty years later, Karan came around
the door into the lab office where Ara was watching her team care
for the baby bears. “Someone here to see you.”

Ara wondered at that because her friend had a
funny grin on her face, and looked mushy. That wasn’t like Karan at
all. It piqued her interest anyway so Ara nodded. “Thanks.” She
wiped her hands and, with one last glance at the new polar bears,
she gave the nursery staff a few instructions and then left. She
had to go over the captive management procedures as well, they were
overdue. While their animals had massive enclosures and a whole
planet to roam in when not a part of the tour, they still had to be
reviewed. Ara was on the committee to ensure the procedures were in
place and audited regularly. There were times she had to contact
the Planet of Law and often she talked to Korbet who always knew
who could help her.

Slightly distracted, she stepped out and
stopped in surprise, now understanding Karan’s gushing.

“He has that effect on many.”

Ara just nodded.

“Hello Ara, this is Balin.”

The Adonis, striking in appearance, with
long, dark red hair smiled at her while his eyes swept down and
then up her body. She suddenly felt very unkempt. Ara could feel
his energy; he was powerful. The arrogant sod didn’t even mute it.
Many Avatara, especially the Venararii, didn’t like giving up
power. She was surprised he had no wings flapping around behind
him. But she felt herself drawn to him so put up her guard. He had
politely declined volunteering all those years ago, but Balin had
helped.

“I know Balin, we’ve worked together.”

Karu flushed a little, maybe remembering his
arrogant refusal no doubt. The dinner date hadn’t gone his way at
all and Ara had continued to badger him about helping at the
Saratoga Wildlife Park. For a silly second Ara thought Balin was
Trickster. But at a blink of her eye he didn’t look like Trickster
at all, he just had similar features. Ara wasn’t fooled by Balin,
Venararii as well, he was a killer, or so she had heard from Terzon
who was well into his military training. His brown hair, eyes, skin
and strong face looked innocent enough, but he winked at her,
putting her at ease. He was two inches shorter than she was but
full of character—that was for sure. And he smiled, while Trickster
never did.

Karu stared at Ara who stared back.
Admittedly, she was dirty, tired, and his primary thought was that
she was utterly adorable. She almost laughed and cut off her mental
touch before turning back to Balin, taking in his appearance more
closely.

“Say hello, Balin.”

“Yes, Master. Hello, Ara.”

Ara was shocked over the title but Balin was
at ease with it, so she simply stared at his dark gold and brown
outfit. After gently laughing, she blurted out, “Whatever are you
wearing?”

“This was the fashion on Earth during the
1300s.”

Ara flushed, trying to contain her amusement,
thinking how rude she had been but Balin’s eyes, while holding no
amusement, didn’t take offense. She had only seen him in mucking
out clothes at a distance. Over the years, after recruiting them at
the mountain resort, her volunteers had dwindled off, but the hair
twirling female was still there.

“Many Avatara have taken to adopting Earth
fashions.”

“I see. What … did I miss your … err…” Rarely
was she flustered but Karu’s smoky green eyes were far too
mesmerizing.

“I’m sorry, Ara. This is a surprise visit.”
Karu smiled, hoping to melt her heart she supposed. “We know you
are busy but we’re here to see the animals in one of the sectors.
Many creatures on Wilds’ southern continent exist on Earth. And
once we begin restoration, we want to do it right. We have an
appointment with Ser Quinlin.”

A male approached from her right, hovering in
the open doorway Ara had come through. She was a little suspicious
of Karu’s motivations for being here since her Virgo was coming up
and she was sure Dad had been arranging something since she
couldn’t be bothered. The latest news broadcasts hinted at possible
restoration so Karu could be a precursor to start the process.

“
That is quite correct,
Persephone.”

Startled, Ara looked up at him but refused to
communicate with him using ArT. “Yes, he’s in charge of
restorations.” She sounded a bit brusque but was busy and
distracted as she saw the male with a tablet in his hands trying to
gain her attention.

“Please, we’ll go,” Karu said
apologetically.

“Would you like to have dinner tonight?” She
signed off on a document regarding the polar bears’ feeding times
but glanced at Balin, directing the question more at him than at
Karu. But Karu responded.

“We’re staying at the Drumland.”

“I can meet you there if you like, around
seven?”

“That would be lovely.” He bowed
slightly.

She nodded, a little self-conscious, and
turned to find another young recruit hovering. “Please show them to
the waiting room, Jan.”

The teen nodded, relieved, and flushed a
little seeing Karu smiling in their general direction. Ara left
them thinking of what Terzon had told her—that Balin was very good
at getting information. She could offer a contract to find about
Pen’s baby dying under unusual circumstances. It was a long time
ago, but Ara was dissatisfied with the queries and investigation.
And it might be a clue to her enemy who seemed to have all but
disappeared. What could they possibly be doing? Ara had addressed
Queen Silvia who asked Ara if she wanted to try to resolve it
herself. That annoyed her a little, but she agreed. Ara knew it was
gentle grooming for her royal duties one day. Silvia had assigned
staff to be available to Ara. Queen Silvia also responded to her as
if there was nothing unusual with her request, while those with
shorter lives looked at her as if she was strange. To Ara, the
incident wasn’t that long ago. In fact, she contacted the local
city authority who said, “It’s a cold case.”

“What do you mean it’s a cold case?”

“Lady Katron, it was a long time ago. The
case was archived and marked as ‘cold’ as in—”

“Never mind.” She cut him off rudely.

After a long day, Ara showered and dressed at
work while she read up on the captive management procedures. She
usually kept a change of clothes at work. Packing away her
documents in her office drawers, and feeling refreshed and
satisfied, she drove a buggy to the restaurant.

She was dressed in slacks and a softly
folding, gaping top, and sensible shoes. Karu stood and bowed
slightly, which increased her discomfort, while Balin gave her a
knowing smile. Karu was drawing looks from women and men of all
ages. They noted his deferential treatment of her and she was
thankful that most of the people in the restaurant were guests and
not co-workers. Ara made sure she was friendly, but not too
friendly. She saw Balin’s smug look before he resumed studying the
menu. They ordered their meals and chatted about her work and
life.

“How are things on Earth?” she finally asked
over dessert. Her stomach was bulging but it was hot chocolate
pudding with clotted cream. “The freeing of Earth is exciting.”

Karu looked at her with a puzzled expression.
“No, it’s not being freed, just restored to extend the time.”

“I see,” she said tightly. “How are the
Avatara managing such a large project with the internal
antipathy?”

He cringed a little at her tone. “The Avatara
dissention is growing.”

She had noticed his pained look and changed
the topic. He seemed relieved and talked instead about their visit
and restoration. He was amazed at her knowledge and promised to
contact her when he was ready to begin. Ara felt more sick than
excited now and wasn’t sure she wanted to help.

“You’re meeting Kavela next?” Karu inquired
politely.

“Yes, hopefully to talk about my
apprenticeship.” And Virgo. Korbet was insistent she be careful as
she had higher than normal, even for a Pure-Gen, energy levels.

“It’s due, yes.”

She took a second to realize he was referring
to her apprenticeship, even though he knew he was a Virgo
candidate. “I have a favor to ask.”

Karu smiled and Ara had to admit there was a
stirring at his appearance, interest, and smile. “I’m
listening.”

At least he didn’t say “Anything for you”
without hearing what she had to say.

“I’d like a list of all the animals on Earth,
not just those that are still present and suffering or
thriving.”

He nodded straight away. “We can help with
that. We have detailed records of Earth critters and the ones you
want are public. You know it was in a time field until Kavela’s
time. I spoke to him recently and he remembered when it came out of
the field.”

“That was around two thousand years before
Christ then?”

Balin nodded. “He remembered it when he was
ten, so it was two thousand, two hundred, and seventy-three
BC.”

“And it was tested for what? Creation |
Evolution?” Her mind wandered off something nagging at her, some
repressed memory or data. She struggled to access it.

“Are you alright, Ara?”

“Sorry.” She smiled. “I’d like to do
something for humans when they are freed from the test.”

Karu raised his eyebrow. “Freed?”

“Yes. If you think this test will go on
indefinitely then I think you need to reconsider your positioning.”
Ara was determined to help those stuck in the test site. She would
use her queen status if she had to. It was evident that those in
power had the most say and that thought confused her. For some
reason, in her mind, she was sure that wasn’t how it was supposed
to be. The Aryan structure seemed almost strange to her, alien.
Everyone should have equal say; she was sure that was how life was
supposed to be. The longer she stayed on Wilds, the more she was
convinced she had someone else’s memories. What had Maya done to
her? But Ara didn’t want to endanger anyone and there was no one
she could talk to. Since everyone was trying to watch and protect
her, there was one last option—find her supposed enemy, but her
only real lead was the false claim that someone killed Pen’s baby
and then the baby deaths. Admittedly, the baby killings might have
been some nasty game against the Aether but Ara had a hunch. She
needed more than a hunch to move forward. She considered her
actions as being selfish, rather than altruistic and a true desire
to right a wrong.

“Ara?” Balin touched her arm.

“Sorry.” Ara sipped her coffee, eyeing off
Karu’s unfinished pudding.

He leaned towards her, pushing his plate over
to her. “The contract allows for the test to run until … the
end.”

“I see.” What the hell was “the end”? The
death of humans and destruction of their planet? She couldn’t say
those things at the restaurant although she desperately wanted to
vent. She picked up her spoon and ate his dessert.

“I’d like to talk more about this, but most
of what I know requires security clearance.”

She smiled tightly. “Very well.”

He didn’t ask her any more questions but
Balin looked with some interest at Ara. She knew then he wasn’t
just deadly, he was exceptionally clever. She doubted most saw past
the Adonis though. She enjoyed their company more than she cared to
admit, and any suspicions that Kavela sent her Karu to inspect for
Virgo were put to rest. Balin walked her to the buggy because Karu
found some female of interest at the bar.

She turned to him, amused now. “How is Earth
really?”

He leaned on the buggy as Ara stopped in
front of him.

“Disgusting. There’s a plague moving like
wildfire and medicine available but the royals won’t distribute it,
mortality rate is around thirty years—”

“That’s unconscionable.”

“—agreed; that’s what Karu said. See you have
something in common.”

She gave him a sly look. “Clever aren’t
you?”

She moved past him to climb into the driver’s
seat.

He lifted a hand and triggered a little orbed
device.

“Mini-Bulwark, why not ask me what you’ve
been burning to ask me all night?” He leaned in close to her,
almost leaning on her shoulder. “Look at me and murmur your
request.”