Paradise 21 (33 page)

“I know.” He patted her hand with long, strong-looking fingers. His eyes grew foggy. “I know what it’s like to be left behind. Anger turns to resentment, and then the sadness weighs in.” He paused, then focused back on her. “That’s why I have a proposition to present.”

Tiff opened her mouth to decline, but he waved her back. “Hear me out first.”

He sat on a stool by her bed, his shoulders slumping as if a million regrets chained him to the floor. Although he was a commander, to Tiff he looked like a broken man who’d gone to hell and back again.

Oddly enough, she felt drawn to him. With his perfect hair, straight edged jaw, and wide chest, he reminded her of the husband in the old 1950s movies, the one that came home in a suit and tie, tired every night after work. She found the resemblance oddly comforting.

“I’ve made many mistakes as a lieutenant, and I don’t wish to make them again as a commander. I know what’s it like to force people, and I know the consequences of those actions. So, I’m not going to force you to do anything. I’m only presenting an opportunity, should you want it.”

Tiff leaned forward. He had her interest piqued. “Everyone should get a second chance.” In her case, a third or fourth, but she didn’t want to mention that. “Okay, let’s hear it.”

“A month from now, the
New Dawn
will pass by another planet like Sahara 354: Sahara 413. I can set you up with an escape pod, and you and the boy can make your way to a new world.”

He locked eyes with her, his eyebrows raised. “You have another choice as well. You can stay with us here on the
New Dawn
and replace the two colonists we’ve lost. We’ve tested both you and the boy and found unique strands of genetic code separating you from anyone here onboard. You have recessive traits long lost to us in our gene pool, and we’d value your contribution to our mission. You’d have all of the necessities of life, along with some luxuries as well. We’d take care of you and Loot into your old age. The
New Dawn
would be your home. We only ask that you and Loot each be assigned an appropriate mate to further the genes of our race.”

His offer whirled around in her head and Tiff clutched the sides of the bed to steady herself. She already knew Loot’s answer, and she’d long known what she wanted as well: a safe home, a father for Loot, and a life free of suffering. One question remained. “Who would my mate be?”

“I was hoping you’d ask.”

Barliss reached into his back pocket and pulled out a diamond ring.

…

The inside of Space Central stank like a toilet that couldn’t be flushed. Aries gagged and coughed, covering her nose with her sleeve. The smell only grew stronger as they walked through the corridor that connected the loading dock to one of the main bubble cities.

Striker gave her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. I forgot about the stench. I should have warned you.”

“That’s okay,” her voice was strained as she struggled to breathe through the fabric. She was aware of the lasers she carried, one on each side, for protection. “I just can’t believe people live like this.”

Reckon snickered. “Darlin’, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Just try not to look like a newbie, okay?”

People lay in heaps on the walkway, covered by scraps of clothing and tattered plastic wrap. They stared at Aries with dark, hungry eyes and she stared back, her mouth hanging open.

“Don’t look at them.” Striker guided her away by the arm and whispered into her ear. “It only encourages them to beg.”

“What do they beg for?”

“Food, water, anything they can eat.”

“My goodness. Everyone had an equal share on the
New Dawn
and we grew enough food to feed us all. In fact, most of the colonists packed on the pounds. The problem was too much food, not too little.”

Striker laughed. “You’re not in Kansas anymore.”

Aries had no idea what that meant, but she looked forward to learning everything Striker knew.

They rounded a bend where a gang of young teens lurked in the shadows. The boldest one, a boy with a filigree of tattoos on his face, kicked a light ball with the spikes on the toes of his boots. His hood, designed like a cobra’s head, glittered in an oily sheen as he stepped forward. He gave their lasers one look and backed away. As he turned, Aries caught a glimpse of his eyes, cold and wild like a lion waiting to pounce.

“Don’t worry.” Striker squeezed Aries’ arm. He must have felt her tensing up. “No one’s going to bother us. Not while you’re with me.”

The city sprawled before them, a shantytown of metal buildings and walkways, suspended in space with bubble glass and stars on all sides. It reminded Aries of the snow globe she’d had in her room on the
New Dawn
. Passed down through generations of her family, her mother had told her it was where her ancestors came from, a city on old Earth once called New York. She would imagine casting herself inside it, living in a time long past. Little white sparkles of fake snow had danced around the tall buildings when she shook it.

The only sparkles in this city lay outside the glass walls. The stars created a glimmering backdrop, but were also a sobering reminder of the nothingness surrounding them on all sides. Dim lamps lit the walkways like tiny fireflies in an ocean of black.

Aries felt a chill run down her body and hugged her arms to her chest. “It’s so dark, so cold.”

Striker put an arm around her. “In Outpost Omega, there’s no day, only night.”

Vendors clogged the main streets, selling what Aries could only see as trash. The first stall she passed had broken eyeglasses, each pair more shattered and bent than the last. The next stall, run by an elderly woman with a scar the size of a kitchen knife down her face, displayed dolls’ heads with no bodies. Some of the porcelain faces were scratched where the eyes had been plucked out. On the other side of the street, a young man sold bins of nails and screws of all sizes. He leered at her with rotten, blackened teeth.

“Does anyone here produce new goods?” Aries asked Striker in a whisper, careful not to offend any of the merchants.

“We ran out of resources decades ago. Now we recycle anything and everything we can find.”

They turned down an alley and entered a building through the back door, climbing up a series of rusted metal stairways until they reached the floor Striker wanted. His pace quickened as he neared the end of the hallway. He buzzed the door button as soon as he reached it.

He spoke into the intercom. “Dad, it’s me, Striker.”

Silence. Aries heard a shout from outside. Someone didn’t like the price they offered for a merchant’s goods. Striker didn’t seem to notice. His face fell with worry. “I hope I didn’t come too late.”

Ignoring the commotion outside, Aries put a hand on Striker’s shoulder, “Wait. Give it time.”

Moments later, the door dematerialized and an old man stepped out. He had sharp, bright, emerald eyes like his son, a distinguished streak of gray on either side of his temples, and a curved nose like an eagle’s beak. In every way he resembled a retired ship commander, toughened by life and time.

“Son.”

Aries watched as Striker’s dad embraced him, touched by their obvious happiness. How long ago had Striker said his crew marooned him? Five years. That was a long time to be missing. Of course, she would never see her own parents again. At least she knew they’d wanted her to be happy.

“Reckon did his job, Dad.” Striker let go of his father and turned to pull the old man forward.

Reckon waved the accolades away. “Nah. I did nothing special.”

Striker’s father extended his hand. “I am forever grateful to you. I’ll keep my promise. You have a ticket to Refuge.”

Striker’s father turned to Aries. “Who, may I ask, is this?”

Striker put his arm around her and squeezed her shoulders gently. “This is Aries. She helped me find a way off Sahara 354.” He looked down at her with such intensity, she felt her cheeks grow hot even in the chill of Outpost Omega. “She saved my life.”

“Aries, nice to meet you.” His father wrapped his arms around her and hugged her like she was his own daughter. He looked at her and Reckon. “Thank you both for reuniting me with my son.”

Aries smiled. “It’s an honor to meet you, sir.”

“They know me around here as Decoder, but you can call me James. Come in, come in.” He gestured for them to follow him into the small room. A single window looking out to space hung over stacked containers of reprocessed food. A metal table had all sorts of puzzles with codes, little cubes resembling Striker’s map. A single picture hung on the metal wall, illuminated by the only lamp. His father was depicted in it, years younger, with a woman that had a thin nose and flowing auburn hair.

James noticed her studying the picture. “That is Lisa Galen the third, my wife.”

Striker scratched his head, annoyed. He pulled up a stool and cleared a spot on the metal table to rest his arms. “Dad, we don’t have time for reminiscing. I’m going to post the coordinates of Refuge on the main channel of the pirate radio. Everyone who lives here will be welcome to start a new life. As for all of us, we’re going to the orphanage. We’re gonna pack the ship up as tight as possible with every child needing a home.”

His father smiled, wrinkles crinkling around his bright eyes. “Following in the footsteps of Captain James Wilfred the first.” He raised an eyebrow. “Our ancestor would be proud.”

“Will you come with us?”

His father’s eyes scanned the room with watery melancholy, resting on the picture. “I wish your mother were alive to see this. She’d want me to go with you.” He wiped his face. “This is where we lived our lives together. I can’t leave her memory behind.”

Striker’s face hardened, but he seemed unsurprised. Aries wondered if they fought constantly about the old memories. In any other situation, she’d keep her opinion to herself, but she cared so much for Striker, she had to say something.

“Sir, you can take her memory with you. We’ll need help with the rebuilding process and we sure could use your advice.”

Striker turned away and pressed the door panel. “It’s hopeless, Aries. Don’t waste your time.” He stormed off into the hallway.

The moment was slipping away, and Striker’s small family threatened to tear at the seams. Aries did everything she could to hold it together. She grasped both of James’ hands in her own and looked into his eyes. “Please.”

“You remind me so much of her,” Striker’s father whispered. “I can see why Striker thinks you’re special.”

Aries felt her cheeks redden. She had no idea he’d seen anything between them.

He pulled his hands away and turned back to his small cell. Under his breath he muttered, “Yes, I’ll go.”

He looked at Reckon. “Go get Striker. He’ll need time to cool off. I’ll make you all a decent meal.”

…

The orphanage hid in a back corner of the space station behind heaps of trash. Aries followed Striker as he led her, along with his father and Reckon, through a path in between mounds of wreckage. Wires poked out of garbage bags like dead snakes, and broken glass twinkled like fallen stars through the litter. Aries had to watch where she put her foot down with every step. The desolation overwhelmed her. Even Sahara 354 had been better than this.

She heard a rustling above her, and a cracked tin can bounced down the side of the heap. A small boy disappeared into the cockpit of an old scout ship. His eyes peered back at her through the busted windshield.

“There are kids hiding in the trash.”

“Scavengers,” Striker explained. “The orphanage sends them out to search for items they can use.”

“Horrible.” Aries covered her mouth in shock.

James came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. “Now they’ll have a better life.”

Ramshackle doors held together by rusted bolts screeched open and an old woman with hair like a rat’s nest peered out. “What do ya want?”

Striker stepped forward. “We’d like to adopt.”

While children hollered and cried in the background, the old woman studied them warily. Cataracts clouded one of her eyes. Using her good eye, she focused on their clothes and their lasers. Aries felt her stare like the rays of one of Sahara 354’s suns. Behind her, Reckon blew his nose and Striker’s father stood perfectly still, arms crossed.

“What for?” the woman finally asked. “People drop kids off here. No one takes ’em out.”

“We do.” Aries stepped forward, thinking as a woman, she’d be the best spokesperson for the group. “We can give them a better home than anyone here.”

Striker brought out a cube and clicked it open. Aries leaned forward to watch as the panels parted and the insides ticked. Light flickered from a lens, projecting a movie on the outer chrome wall of the orphanage. Star systems whizzed by, followed by nebulous clouds and cosmic dust. A sun, surrounded by three planets, came into focus. The view plunged toward a small moon orbiting one of the planets. Underneath a thick atmosphere of puffy clouds lay a miniature paradise, filled with blue and green.

Striker clicked off the image. “I call it Refuge. I’ve sent the coordinates to everyone here at the station. I’d like to start a new colony, and I’ll need volunteers to help build a city.”