Wake Me In The Future (22 page)

Although Ramoon, and Rachel’s parents, were outwardly very pleasant, I couldn’t help but feel the animosity from them. It seemed to emanate from them in waves. They wanted to know what I was going to do with myself and when I said I wasn’t sure at the moment they seemed to be disappointed. I didn’t really want to raise the issue of Helen while I had issues outstanding with Ramoon about the Cryogen project.

But Maya took every opportunity to praise the superiority of their race and it felt to me like she was doing it for the benefit of Ramoon. ‘We mourned the passing of such a noble race as the original humans.’ Maya said, but there was an undercurrent of relief in her voice that her kind was able to end their long search and settle here. And there was a distinct lack of genuine feeling behind their 'so called' sadness at the extinction of humanity and even less delight when she recounted the story of discovering the Cryogens on the Moon. Throughout the evening they lingered on the technological changes they’d added to human culture as if something had always been missing.

As a lull came into the conversation Ramoon leaned forward toward Maya as if he had important news to impart. ‘Have you heard about Amira?’

I looked at Rachel and mimed, ‘who’s Amira,’ but it was answered by Maya who was quick to say, ‘Ankit’s wife, no what?’

‘It’s reported that she’s left him. The rumour is that they’ve fallen out and she’s opted to be reborn to get away from him.’

‘Oh poor Ankit,’ said Rachel, ‘but isn’t Amira’s action a bit drastic for the break up of a marriage. Shouldn’t she be given counselling?’

I was surprised at the news, but it did explain why my friend had been so disturbed about the break up of his relationship.

‘She was a bit of a recluse,’ explained Mazood, ‘not many people saw her at all, she didn’t get involved in Ankit’s work and he was happy with that arrangement.’

The conversation then seemed to turn naturally towards relationships and my intentions to Rachel. Ramoon obviously picked up the concern emanating from Maya because he interrupted and said with a mischievous and malicious grin. ‘Have you told them about your wife Richard?’

He didn’t give me time to reply before eagerly going on to tell them about Helen.

I shifted uncomfortably in my chair as Maya’s mouth lifted into a smile and she seemed to come alive, ‘Oh Richard that’s so sad, you mustn’t ever give up on her. She could be anywhere, just waiting for you to find her.’

That did it, their intentions were blatantly obvious now; they didn’t want my dirty Cryogen ways to sully their Manooran purity. After what they’d been saying about how wonderful the new world was, where everyone believed they were human, and how they’d one day like to live there, I’d had enough. How could they bring Helen into this when I was sitting opposite Rachel, especially as I was beginning to have strong feelings for her? Their conversation was profoundly inappropriate and their words angered me.

Holding my temper I got up and made my excuses. Thanked them for a lovely evening and left. Rachel walked down the corridor with me and apologised for her parents.

‘It’s not your fault Rachel, I shouldn’t be as mixed up as I am; at least then no one could question my intentions.’

She looked into my eyes and said, ‘Richard, I’ll help you find out what’s happened to Helen, whatever the outcome, as long as you don’t mind me admitting I have strong feelings for you.’

I gulped, ‘Err..’ I started to say something that really wasn’t there, and then I squeezed her hands and turned around and walked away.

I needed to resolve this as quickly as possible. There was something not quite right about it all and somehow I had to find out the truth. And as I thought once more about the sense of pleasure I’d detected in Ramoon’s explanation of my desperate search for Helen, I had a sudden idea about how and where I might be able to find it.

Then turning around, I headed in the direction of the one person I knew who might be able to help me.

Chapter 22
– Evidence

‘Richard, it’s private.' Ankit insisted, when we met the following morning to travel to Ramoon's office.

He was reluctant to discuss his recent disappearance, other than to admit it had been for personal reasons and not business ones as we'd all been led to believe. But I wasn’t intending to pry; I already knew the general facts - courtesy of Ramoon, who might as well have broadcast the news across all the planets for all the discretion he’d shown.

In fact, when I considered why I was dwelling on the subject at all, I was forced to admit to myself, that I had as much a desire to highlight Ramoon’s indiscretion, as a need to display my concern for my friend.

'I don't want to talk about Amira at the moment.' Ankit asserted.

'I understand, and I wont pry,' I said with genuine sincerity, 'it’s just that I was worried about you when I couldn't get in touch. Both you and Ramoon had gone missing on the same day that I received that message from the Cryogen project, and it just seemed a strange coincidence. It felt like......something was wrong.'

And then, hoping to gauge Ankit’s opinion of the high official, I voiced my feelings for the first time. ‘I can’t say I was particularly concerned about Ramoon though, he doesn’t come across overly friendly to anyone who’s a Cryogen.’

The feeling behind my words said more than the words themselves, and I looked tentatively over to Ankit for a reaction.

He said nothing for a few seconds, as if allowing what I'd just said to sink in, but it was obvious from his demeanour that he was uncomfortable with the whole conversation and wanted it to be over as soon as possible. And with a note of finality in his voice he said, 'I can't speak for Ramoon, perhaps he
genuinely
was on business, but as far as I am concerned I want to forget the last two weeks,' then he paused and added, with a little more composure in his voice, 'but I do appreciate your concern Richard, thank you.'

I hated seeing his spirits so low, but there was absolutely nothing I could do about it, so I just nodded my understanding and followed him in silence to the administration sector at the centre of the city.

When we entered Ramoon's office, the High Official was sitting behind a long 'glass' desk, which I suspected was actually made of the synthetic diamond that Jennifer had told me they were now able to manufacture. It was framed by a wall sized vid-screen behind it that displayed a vast expanse of space in which a familiar planet hovered in the distance.

Ankit must have seen me trying to place the image and said 'Manoora.'

'Of course,' I said, staring at the graceful home planet of my friend, 'it's very beautiful.'

'It most certainly is,' interrupted Ramoon with pride, and continued in what I thought was the first genuine tones I'd heard come from the man, 'but looks can be deceptive Richard, because to many of us, that image represents a reminder of the prison we've escaped from and the freedom we've finally gained.'

And that was
about as much sincerity we were going to get from Ramoon for now, because the familiar condescending quality returned to his voice, along with the disingenuous frown that I'd seen him wear before. 'Sit down Richard; I've uncovered some information regarding Helen.'

I was stunned into silence by the statement and my jaw must have visibly dropped. I thought I'd come here to discuss my application to the Cryogen project, and I’d even prepared a long diatribe on the reasons they should let me join.

My heart raced, and all I could find to say was, 'What is it. Have you found her?'

'Please Richard; you really need to sit down,’ Ramoon repeated, looking to Ankit for support.

That said it all didn't it, they couldn't have found her, otherwise he'd have said immediately; which meant the words,
sit down,
was really a way of saying,
I’ve got bad news
.

I fell down hard onto the seat behind me without losing eye contact with Ramoon, and demanded, 'What.'

'I've uncovered some records that show an attempt to revive Helen,' and adopting that fake sincerity that I'd begun to detest, he said, 'it failed Richard; none of her organic material was viable. She couldn't even be reborn. I am afraid her remains were cremated.'

Try as he might Ramoon couldn’t conceal his indifference to my feelings, which in itself was worse than a deliberate insult.

‘What?’ I screamed – or shouted, I don’t know, but before I knew it I was up and I’d grabbed Ramoon by his jacket and shook him. ‘That can’t be true, you’re lying! You’re lying! She’s not gone.’

‘Richard, Richard, please....’ it was Ankit trying to restrain me. And I let him move my arms and take me back to the chair.

‘I am sorry Ramoon,’ I said trying to control my emotions, ‘I don’t know what came over me. Its just the system told me there was no record of an attempt to revive Helen. I don't understand.'

‘That’s OK Richard. I know you’re upset. The system was actually referring to its current records when it told you that. It seems Helen was amongst the first batch of Cryogens we attempted to revive, prior to keeping detailed records. I managed to discover this by searching through earlier data held offline.’

I lowered my head and remained silent whilst I tried to take in what I’d just been told. I couldn't believe it, I'd lost Helen; we’d travelled through all this time together, to this place, only to be parted like this. How could I live the life we'd both wanted, forever....and on my own?

I covered my face with my hands but couldn't cry, I was in shock, not able to take it in, not wanting to. Then I felt the squeeze of Ankit's hand on my shoulder as my friend tried to comfort me. Everything seemed so quiet, as if all the sound had been sucked from the room, except the echo of Ramoon's words that repeated in my mind 'I am afraid her remains were cremated…' 

When I composed myself and looked up, Ramoon was holding the info-sheet that he'd been referring to when telling me the news. It seemed to shimmer in the light from the planet behind the desk, teasing me with the power that its contents had over my very existence. It represented the thing that finally and irrevocably separated me from Helen, and I felt an overwhelming need to see the words it contained.

'Can I have a look at that,' I said, holding out my hand towards it.'

But Ramoon snatched it towards himself protectively, 'No, I am afraid it's confidential.'

'I am sorry Ramoon,’ I said dejectedly, but for a moment I thought I saw a change of expression on the High Official's face. That sinister look I remembered from the first time I'd seen him had paid a brief and unwelcome visit. ‘I am just in shock.'

And my system seemed to retreat back into denial, as if hoping that just to carry on as if nothing had happened would make it all go away. So, although it really didn’t seem that important now, I suddenly recalled my ulterior motive for being there and asked, 'May I have some water please?'

And welcoming the excuse to move the attention away from the info-sheet, Ramoon said, 'of course, I'll get you some,' and walked quickly into the next room still clutching the object in his hand.

As soon as he was out of the room I turned to Ankit, ‘would you go and speak to him for me and try to convince him to let me see what’s on that info-sheet. I need to see it before I can accept what I’ve just been told.’ I looked directly into his eyes, ‘Please.’

Ankit sighed, and then finally nodded, before following Ramoon out of the room.

As soon as he’d gone, I stood up quickly. The news about Helen had shattered my world and taken my mind completely off the plan I’d hatched the night before to access Ramoon’s private files, and there was nothing I wanted to do more right now than go home and crawl into a corner and die. I tried desperately to focus for the short time I knew it would take. Even though my mind wasn’t on it, I had to try.

When we'd thought about what I was about to do we’d considered our chances to be slim; not fully understanding the restrictions that might be built into the system. But even so, it was worth it, if there was any chance of getting nearer the truth.

In the event this seemed far easier. In his haste to get out of the room with the info-sheet, Ramoon had left his desk drawer open and I could see through the transparent surface of the desk, that there were piles of similar sheets, as thin as paper, stacked in it. I couldn’t afford to stop and think why the information wasn’t stored on the main system, I didn’t have the time.

I wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth, so I pressed the buzzer in my pocket to give the signal to Simon, who I’d recruited the night before in the hope that his previous surveillance knowledge could give me an edge.

Simon was waiting at his apartment to be contacted and within a few seconds an incoming vid-message could be heard followed by his voice in the other room. I estimated I had less than five minutes to find whatever I could; a few minutes while Simon distracted Ramoon, and the additional time that Ankit would take in trying to convince him to let me see the info-sheet.

I reached down and fully opened the drawer of the desk to reveal piles of the info-sheets. Lifting a
handful
out, I spread them quickly over the desk and took out the recording device that Simon had given me the night before. This would store the information
and
at the same time transmit it back to Simon’s apartment.

I had no time to take notice of what I was scanning, and anyway, I was so nervous and tense that I just wanted it to be over. However, I did catch a glance of the word ‘
suppressed
’ against a list of names, before the sweep of the device in my hand captured the information, and the sheets were back in the drawer to be replaced by another pile.

When I’d finished I placed the last pile of sheets back in the drawer and sat back down, a minute or so before Ankit and Ramoon came back into the room.

‘That was Simon,’ said Ramoon, ‘he said he's been concerned that your obsession with finding Helen has been having a detrimental effect on you. I’ve not said anything about what we've discovered; I thought you'd want to break the news to them yourself.’