Origin & Earth (The Orris Project Book 1), page 14
“I feel like that will cause a lot of problems in a society advanced enough to build a Lance.”
She smiled, and Garrett thought it a beautiful smile. She answered sweetly, unlike the way she handled Tom Holly. “Yes, Terry. You’re right. I’m just scratching the surface of the details and disqualifiers today. A lot of the rules and guidelines and methods will seem unfair to the marks. That’s the reason you will each need to take great pains to explain everything to them. It will not be fair. It will not be equal. Certain people will be given preferential treatment, but it is all by design. We do it this way to give the entire group the best chance at survival; the best chance of succeeding in their mission,” she said. Several in the group were nodding. “If we let them do it their way, everyone would be dead in a hundred years. Orris would either receive a ship full of corpses or their Lance would just drift through space until the collapse.” Garrett found smart women attractive; he felt the same about grounded women, and at that moment, he was finding Dr. Lauren Astor irresistible. He looked at the clock more and more often, and the butterflies in his stomach were in an all-out war.
6
When the class concluded, Garrett went slowly about his business. The others hurried out, eager to get to their homes or their evening plans. Dr. Astor had walked to the metal desk against the wall after dismissing the class, and when she turned around, she looked surprised to see that Garrett was the only one left.
“Wow, I thought we would have to be more covert than this. Well, I’m yours. What are we doing tonight?” Her words reignited the butterfly war in Garrett’s stomach. He was extremely relieved that he had mentally walked through the moment a hundred times the night before.
“Well, we have two options. There is a really nice place on Seventh Ave. It’s a fusion restaurant and offers many types of food, but it is very high class. We could both go home and get changed into our finest eveningwear, or…” he paused. She was giving him a playful scowl. “Or there’s a steakhouse on 42nd Street and we can go as we are.” She smiled. “Steakhouse it is,” he said.
“That sounds great,” she said, gathering her things and stowing them in her bag. “There’s a bus stop across the street, right outside the front doors. I don’t really want to put a lot of effort into keeping this a secret, but we probably shouldn’t walk out together. Go to the bus stop and I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.”
Garrett was only standing at the bus stop for what felt like two or three minutes before he saw Lauren emerge from the OPM building and stride across the street. She was wearing a dark red button down top and a black skirt that stopped at her knees. Garrett couldn’t help but glance at her legs as she traversed the crosswalk.
“Ready?” she asked. She was smiling, and Garrett once again felt a warm feeling in his chest.
“Yes, let’s walk. It isn’t that far,” he said. They walked together and although Garrett felt it inappropriate to reach for her hand, he felt hers gently grip his elbow after only a few steps. He smiled. They did not speak for the one-and-a-half blocks it took to get to the restaurant. There was still an awkwardness about them, and Garrett felt it was the awkwardness that fostered the silence and was glad for it. When he spoke to her, he did not want it to be while they were walking, but while they sat across from each other and could read one another’s expressions.
They arrived at Glenn Barron’s Steak & Ale minutes after leaving the bus stop. Their table was a thick slab of wood, sanded and lacquered to a glossy finish. The chairs were equally heavy and well-made, also smooth lacquered wood with an embroidered leather cushion nailed into the seat. The whole place was dim, but each table was lit individually, giving the impression of a more private experience.
“I’ve never been here before,” she said. “But I like it. I prefer places like this to the more upscale restaurants. I feel more comfortable.”
Garrett nodded. “Me too. I’ve been here a few times, but the first was when my father decided I was old enough to drink. I think he was sorry he did that, because I learned how much I love beer, so much that I even started brewing it in his garage.”
She laughed. “Really? So is the great Garrett Rhodes also a master brewer now?”
“I excel at making bad-tasting beers, so no, not that good.”
She furrowed her brow. “They’re all bad?”
“No, I’m exaggerating. They’re usually drinkable, but I’m not going to enter any competitions. And I have made a few that were downright disgusting.”
They both laughed as the young waiter, probably a few years their junior, approached and asked Lauren what she would like to drink.
“I will have whatever that man is having.” She smiled and stared at Garrett with anticipation.
“Are you sure you want to do that?” he asked. Smile firmly in place, she nodded.
“I’ll have a Henson’s Dopplebock.” His eyes never left hers.
“Twelve, twenty, or thirty-two?” The young man asked. Garrett smiled wider; gaze still fixed on Lauren.
“Two thirty-twos, please.” The waiter nodded and walked off to the bar to get their order. The smile faded from Lauren’s face.
“Are you trying to kill me?” she asked.
Garrett laughed. “I just wanted to give you the experience. It’s the same order my father put in when he first took me here. I guarantee it will be interesting, for better or worse.”
“Okay, I’ll try it, but if I don’t like it, you have to finish mine,” she said.
He smiled again, but it was a small smile. “If I drink a half gallon of that stuff, you’ll have to roll me out of here.” As he finished his sentence, the waiter was placing the two enormous glass mugs of midnight black ale in front of them. Lauren’s eyes grew wide.
“I think I understand now,” she said. The waiter asked for their dinner order and Lauren again deferred to Garrett, who did not torture her, ordering two modest steaks with the house sides.
When the waiter left, Lauren changed the subject. “When we’re in class, do I make it extremely clear that I don’t like Tom or just moderately clear?”
“I think everyone understands. Why is that? It seems like it predates our classes with you.” He lifted the enormous glass to his lips and sipped the strong beer.
“It does. It’s Olive. She wants to start a family, and she’s already thirty-six years old. And now that rat has her wrapped around his finger, and he’s leaving in ten months!” She slid the glass close to the edge of the table so she could take a sip without having to lift it. “Ready?” She took the sip. Garrett observed the fluid level in the glass as it declined, confirming that she had made a serious effort at her experiment. Her brow first shot up high on her forehead before settling back down rather quickly, and she smiled.
“I can’t believe it, but I like this. It’s so strong, though!” she said.
Garrett laughed heartily. “I’m impressed. That is not a beginner’s beer.”
She squinted at him. “I’m not a beginner, but I’ve never had anything that strong.” They both took another sip.
“The whole thing with Tom and Olive, and us talking about them; it kind of shines a pretty bright spotlight on what we’re doing right now. I leave eight days after Tom,” Garrett said.
The smile melted from her mouth but not her eyes. “That’s true, but there is one major difference. I’m twenty-three years old, and I honestly don’t even know if I want to have children. But I have a lot of time to figure that out.” Their food came as she was finishing her sentence. Garrett understood they were approaching the topic of their relationship and the butterflies came back. He had never felt less like eating. He went to his beer again to help soften his nerves. As he put his glass down, he noticed she was doing the same, and that put him more at ease. He cut into his steak.
“So, what does your father do?” she asked, and the duration of their meal comprised her asking and him answering questions relating to his family, their occupations, his own history, both academic and otherwise. He did not know if she was intentionally preventing him from asking questions about her family or not, but she was doing an artful job of it. His revelations took them all the way through the meal, and once they finished, Garrett took inventory of their large drinks. He had consumed two-thirds of his and could feel it. To his surprise, she had finished almost the same amount. When he looked back up at her, she was smiling and had a touch of blush on her cheeks.
“Is this all we have planned, Mr. Rhodes? Or are we doing something else tonight?” Her smile never wavered. If it were not for the alcohol, the butterflies would have reentered the scene.
“I’d love to continue the evening, but I regret not planning anything else.” He was disappointed in himself, a thing that sober hindsight would eventually remedy.
“Do you want to go look at Orris?” she asked. His expression must have been a priceless blend of confusion and excitement, because she laughed at his reaction. “You took care of the first half of the date. Let me handle the second half.” They stood up, both leaving their remaining beer. They left the restaurant, Garrett stopping at the bar to pay and leave a large tip, of course, with his badge.
As they walked out, he asked, “Where are we going?” She smiled and tilted her head, indicating that he should follow. They walked two-and-a-half blocks and Garrett read the text carved into the stone wall of the enormous building she was leading him toward.
DINESTA CENTRAL OBSERVATORY
OPM—Dinesta, Rep. of Korrah
“How are we going to get in?” Garrett asked. She chuckled and looked at him as though he were crazy.
“Who do you think you’re with?” she asked. As they reached the doors, she lifted her own badge to the radio receiver and Garrett heard a loud thunk, which could only have been the bolt disengaging. A small red light on the receiver blinked out and relit green. She pushed the door open, and when it shut behind them, Garrett heard it relock. The entrance to the building was a cavern, the ceiling four stories high. To both the left and right were large banks of elevators, the back wall lined with heavy wooden double doors. Garrett suspected they were conference rooms or one large auditorium. Above, hanging from the ceiling, was a model of the Orris operations center. Not as it was, but what it would look like when complete. The model was enormous and beautifully detailed. As they walked to the security desk, she pointed up at a specific node protruding from the ring-shaped model.
“Do you know what that is?” she asked. The echoes from her heels clicked loudly through the cavern as they drew closer to the security desk.
“Command?” Garrett asked.
She nodded, smile never fading, and said, “Hi Wade.” They had reached the security desk. “This is…”
“Garrett Rhodes,” the security guard, Wade, stood and extended a hand to Garrett. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, son.” Garrett shook hands with the man, who looked old enough to be his grandfather but fit enough to be sturdy in his age. His grip was firm, and his smile seemed genuine.
“The pleasure is all mine, Wade,” Garrett said. The security guard laughed and sat back down.
“Yeah, sure it is. What can we do for you and your friend, Lauren?”
“We’re going up to the observation deck.” She glanced at Garrett. “We’re also going to make a stop on thirty-four,” she smiled at the man.
“What? This thing isn’t big enough for you?” He glanced up at the model. “I imagine you’ll be up there for more than an hour?” She rolled her eyes and nodded. “Okay, I only ask because I’m off in an hour and Earl is taking over. Maybe leave through the back or the side exit.”
“Ugh, okay,” she said as she leaned over the desk and hugged the man. The hug took Garrett by surprise, but she walked off toward the elevators to the right of where they were standing, as though it were completely normal. Garrett followed.
“So, you know our friend Wade pretty well then?” Garrett said once they were in the elevator and the doors had closed. She laughed and nodded.
“He’s my mother’s older brother. He told me and my sister not to call him ‘uncle’ anymore once we were adults, so we don’t,” she said. Garrett nodded. “Why? Are you jealous?” Alcohol or not, Garrett blushed. He was jealous, but before he could say or do anything else, she embraced him. Her hair smelled amazing, like some flower that he could not think of but was familiar to him. He gently returned the embrace to find her frame thin and delicate. Her cheek was smooth against his closely shaved neck, and as she released her grip, she kissed the underside of his jaw.
“There,” she said. “Jealousy abated.” Garrett’s legs were jelly, and he hoped he could walk normally when the elevator doors opened. Fortunately, the elevator was not as fast as the one in the OPM building, and they were going all the way up to the thirty-fourth floor.
When the carriage stopped, and before the doors opened, she said, “Close your eyes.” He looked at her. “Quick! Trust me!” Garrett closed his eyes. He heard the doors slide open and felt the fingers of her left hand interlace with the fingers of his right. She led him out of the elevator. “We have to walk a little, but keep your eyes closed, you won’t regret it.” He did as she asked. After an eternity, she stopped and said, “Okay, step up. Ten steps, ready?” He did his best to ascend the stairs without tripping. When they were at the top, she let go of his hand, stepped behind him, and put both of hers on his sides, just above his belt. She steered him around a corner. “Stop,” she said, and he felt her place each of his hands on a railing directly in front of him. “Okay, OPEN!” He opened his eyes.
What he saw shook him to his core. “Is that…?” he said, but he could not finish. He just stared.
“Orris,” she said. It was nothing like the modest model down on the first floor. That had only been the operations center, the section under construction at that moment in Osa’s orbit. He was looking at the whole thing. The finished craft, as they expected it to look when it made the jump to escape the collapse. The model consumed the entire floor of the building, minus the elevators. Garrett had to squint to see the operations center as they had represented it with the model. It was the size of his thumbnail. His knees finally buckled, and he fell to them on the floor.
“I never thought I’d see it!” He had a tear running down one cheek. Lauren squatted to help him back up. “It’s… I can’t, I don’t…” he drifted off as she helped lift him back to his feet. He braced himself on the railing again and breathed deeply several times. “This is everything. It’s what will be left when Osa is gone, when Distria is gone, and all the others. This is why we’re here.” Tears had run down both of his cheeks, and from his right side, she embraced him again. He draped his arm over her shoulders and pulled her close to him. He had never experienced such a hurricane of emotion.
Still locked in each other’s arms, she looked up at him and said, “I think it might get even worse.” Garrett burst into a mix of tears and laughter.
“I’m ready!” he said, smiling through the tears. “Let’s do it!” He pulled her close again before releasing her.
7
Once they were in the observatory, Garrett’s face twisted in confusion. “I don’t understand how this can work in the city.” He was looking at the enormous optical telescope at the top of the observatory building and shaking his head.
“Curfew, 26:00,” Lauren said. “Then the city goes dark. It’s 24:30. In an hour, this place will fill up.” Garrett still could not believe they could darken an entire city enough to reduce light pollution to levels required by such a massive telescope.
“How?” he asked.
She didn’t laugh but dipped her head with her perpetual smile. “Ninety-eight percent of the light is controlled by the city. At 26:00, they turn them off. Any external light not controlled by Dinesta is mandated to be off by 26:00. If it’s not, they get fined.”
“How does the city’s population not revolt against this?” he asked.
She looked up at him with a beautiful innocence. “They know it’s for Orris. They adjust their lives to give us our eight hours of dark each night. At six in the morning, they can go back to doing whatever they want.”
“What about crime? Police?” Garrett could not wrap his mind around the curfew. He had grown up and lived almost thirty miles away, so other than work, his family rarely ventured to the city, and never in the late-night hours.
“Any criminals are in the dark and the cops have infrared. The bad guys are at quite the disadvantage. Crime is actually very low in Dinesta,” she said.
Garrett nodded and shook his head. “Amazing.”
“Anyway, we can’t use the big one for a number of reasons, but mostly because I don’t know how. I can use these, though. Come over here.” She took his hand and led him to a large, heavy metal door and pushed it open. Outside was a narrow, long observation deck with much smaller telescopes dotted along its length. Each of them had a bench assigned to it, four feet back from the devices. The telescopes, although small compared to the monstrosity inside, would still put any home hobbyist to shame.
