Logos (Link Book Three), page 29
Calvin took charge, ordering everyone to stay calm until translators were connected. Luke walked with Lilly, stepping past the immobile Automatons, and they reached the ramp together.
“Kennedy!” Luke called, and his daughter glanced around, searching for the source of the voice. “Kennedy!” he repeated, and she finally found him.
“Dad? Mom!” She hurried to them, and after a grueling fifteen years, Luke was reunited with his family. In the distance, he spotted Callie smiling, then she got lost in the crowd.
“I leave Ethos for a few months and this is how we find it? It’s a mess!” Kennedy proclaimed.
Luke, caught up in the moment, burst into laughter.
____________
Sanya emerged out of the wormhole with a start and flipped her fighter on. The star was gigantic up close, and her shields warned they were critically low. Her hull was hammered with radiation and heat so intense, she felt it singeing her skin. Sanya would be baked alive if she didn’t react, and quickly.
The fleet of Zen-Class cruisers stood no chance as they were dragged by the powerful gravitational pull. Sanya diverted all power to her thrusters and slowly crept away from the star while the larger vessels disappeared into the bright solar flares.
She didn’t stop until the ship claimed she was no longer in danger of crashing. Sanya spun the nose around to view the scene. None of the Hiphol had survived.
Sanya couldn’t control what happened to the rest of the human fleet, but she’d done her part.
Curious how her allies had fared, she set course for Ethos.
____________
Calvin stood at the edge of the procession, watching the faces of the departed as they flashed across the wall with massive projections. Their population had dwindled by six thousand, and each of those soldiers was being honored for their service. At the end, it slowed, then settled on the image of Darius Black. Everyone rose and saluted their brave fleet admiral, who’d done irrevocable damage to the Hiphol when they attacked the Lunar Base.
Next was Ambassador Cunningham, and the crowd grew solemn. Colonel Barker was among the dead, as was Sanya Levine. Calvin shook his head, wishing they’d had a different fate.
The projection finished, and Cal leaned toward Henry. “Why wasn’t Jane included?”
“Because she isn’t truly dead, Calvin.”
“What?”
“She’s part of the Oniri Band.”
Calvin had heard the story of her transformation to something different, but couldn’t quite grasp the implications. “Maybe I can visit and talk…”
“She’s no longer Jane.” Henry lifted a finger. “The ambassador is speaking.”
Joanna Gaines marched to the podium, and the large crowd quieted. Humans intermingled with various alien races, each grateful not to be part of the Hiphol. Cadre Chief Khar and a Locus named Vash joined Ambassador Gaines as she addressed the group.
“It’s with great respect that I stand before you today. We’ve reached an accord between our people,” she said, and the cheering overlapped her voice. Joanna smiled and waited the noise out before continuing. “Chief Khar will return to Ivoth and free the remaining Cadres. As of this moment, the Hiphol are no more!”
Cal gazed at Luke’s daughter, who hugged a crustacean on two legs. Luke and his wife were close by, his arm around her waist.
“We now have access to countless worlds through the complex network of wormholes. The first mandate is to map them out, which will take a concerted effort between partners. If we make contact with new alien life, we’ll do so as a collective, rather than as individuals,” Gaines said. “Using a page from the Locus, let’s celebrate the death of the heroes of Ethos.”
Calvin listened to the rest of the speech, which informed them the Locus would be reclaiming Caelum, their previous home. The Vramloz, who’d lost their planet to the Hiphol invasion, would occupy Ivoth until they found a new destination.
Ahead were the scientists from Excursion, including Curtis Singh and Kathy Nightingale. Kaze Lockerbie was noticeably missing.
“Excuse me,” Cal said, slipping away from Henry and his father.
Calvin wandered the empty streets, wondering what he’d do now that Jane was gone. They’d briefly discussed their future, but with her gone, he felt as alone as he had all those years on Link Station.
He went to the lake, where Patch stood casting a line into the water. Cal nodded at the older man, and Patch waved. He eventually stopped at the bench near the beach and sat, listening to the water lapping against the rocks.
“Not today, maybe tomorrow.”
____________
The lights were dim as she opened her eyes. Everything was blurry. “I can’t see.”
“There, there. It’ll come,” a voice said.
“Dr. Lockerbie?”
“You remember. That’s a good sign.”
She squinted, and his figure became a dark shadow, with brightness surrounding it like a halo. “Am I dead?”
Kaze laughed lightly. “No, Jane. You’re very much alive.”
Jane tried to sit up, but white spots danced in her vision.
“Take it easy. Have some water.”
She felt something touch her lips, and she sucked through a straw. Her throat was raw, and only half the water made it down. It was like she’d never swallowed before.
“What’s the last thing you remember?” he asked. Now she made out a Slab in his hand, and a drone recording their interaction.
Jane thought back. “You brought me to the laboratory and…”
“Yes.”
“You scanned me, then…I don’t recall.”
“Okay. Perfect.”
“Where’s Henry?”
“With his father.”
“Father?” she asked. “What did I miss?”
“There’s no simple way to tell you, Jane, so I’ll do you a favor. You had an accident at the Oniri Band, and your memories were transmitted into your clone.”
Kaze came into focus, and he stared at her with a finger hovering over the Slab.
Jane lifted an arm, finding it unblemished by years of sunlight. The scar on her wrist from falling out of a tree as a kid wasn’t there. Her nails were short and thin. A medical device beeped as Jane struggled for air.
“Steady your breaths.” Kaze took her hand. “It’s a lot, and this body is brand new. It takes a while to acclimate.”
“Am I…me?” Jane managed to sit upright, banishing the white spots.
“Of course, as much as anyone is…themselves.”
“Can I have a mirror?”
Kaze used his Slab, changing the program, and offered it to her. The camera replayed her image on the screen, and Jane couldn’t believe her eyes. She looked twenty-five again. Her hair was different, thicker and darker. “What happened at the Band?”
“Those details are confidential.”
“Where’s Ambassador Cunningham?”
“Dead.”
“Why hasn’t he been cloned?”
“Many have requested not to be.”
A whimper caught her attention, and Jane glanced down to find D’Artagnan on the floor. “Why’s the dog here?”
“He won’t leave.”
Jane patted the bed, and D’Artagnan jumped up, lying at her feet. She scratched his head and the dog rolled onto his back, stretching out.
“This is it. I’m alive.” Jane felt like herself. She closed her eyes, picturing moments of her life. Graduation. Her mother’s funeral. Kissing Calvin. “Does Cal know?”
“Not yet.”
“He thinks I’m gone?”
“Yes.”
Jane swung her legs off the bed and fell. Kaze caught her, keeping her from doing any serious damage. “How long will it take?”
“Baby steps, Jane.”
“Can you call him?”
“I’d be happy to.”
Jane noticed a cupcake with a candle on a tray by the door.
____________
Two weeks had flown by. Luke had spent it with his loved ones, learning about Kennedy’s and Lilly’s lives without him. Scout tried to give them space, but Luke demanded the boy join his family. Many of the aliens had vacated Ethos, returning to wherever they’d been invaded by the Hiphol to see what remained of their homes.
Ethos once again felt like a bustling colony, but they continued having issues. Will constantly asked for Luke’s help with the water pumps, and he enjoyed being good at something other than killing.
With news that the Sun Colonies invasion had been thwarted, the colony was almost peaceful. Ambassador Gaines had no immediate plans to return until she’d confirmed every last Hiphol-loyal faction was broken up. Then there was the matter of the Zenoh mines to deal with. The various alien races were arguing about who should run and distribute the ore that helped them travel faster through the wormholes.
Luke gazed at the dark sky, knowing it might only be a matter of time before the fledgling colony might face other dangers. And what of the creators of the Oniri Band? Were they still out there, watching the events unfold? Luke lifted a hand, waving at the stars.
“Who are you waving at?” Kennedy asked.
“Nobody.”
She was so much like him, but was the spitting image of Lilly at that age.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Kennedy linked arms with him.
“Everything.”
“Forget about it. I heard about the Deniers, and I don’t care.”
“You don’t?”
“Nah. Neither does Mom.”
Luke had come clean after the fight, and Lilly had accepted his flaws.
“You thought we were dead. I won’t hold it against you.”
A light flashed as a fighter hovered over the colony. Luke was on alert, since all the J-1Es were parked and accounted for. He reached for a gun that wasn’t there and motioned for Kennedy to stay out of sight.
The ship landed in the courtyard, and he noticed the emergency lights were the only ones operating. The cockpit hatch swung open, and Luke kept in front of Kennedy.
A woman tossed her helmet to Luke. “You going to stand there, or can a girl get a drink?”
“Sanya?” He met her at the rungs, and she almost fell into his arms. “I thought you were dead.”
“So did I, but here we are.” She tried walking, but clearly needed assistance. “I’m running on fumes.”
Luke called for Kennedy. “Bring Dr. Gunther and meet me in the domes.”
“Yes, sir.” Kennedy rushed off, and Luke half carried Sanya toward the bunkhouse she’d once shared with Jane.
“Weren’t you in the middle of the wormhole detonation?”
“Yep.” She smiled, then groaned as he set her on a bunk. Luke found a bottle of water and offered it to her. “I didn’t feel like spending eternity in a star with those other guys.”
“Good call.” Luke stepped back when Gunther arrived, carrying his medical pack. A moment later, Sanya was scanned, and he injected her with a strong sedative.
“Is she going to make it?”
Gunther nodded and ran a second scan. “She’s fine, just dehydrated and malnourished. I’ll have her running laps with the soldiers again tomorrow.”
“Great,” he mumbled.
Valentina met him outside, and peered in. “I heard.”
“Doc says she’s all right.”
“If anyone could survive a wormhole bomb, it’s Colonel Levine. You coming to the party?”
“Party?” he asked.
Valentina shook a bottle of port wine. “It’s Cal’s birthday.”
EPILOGUE
Calvin waited while Dr. Lockerbie left the room.
“She’s a little confused,” Kaze whispered while in the hallway.
“Is she…”
“It’s Jane Vanderbilt by every account, Calvin. You’d be surprised how many people are doing this back home.” Kaze wandered off, stopping at the next door. “Oh, happy birthday. I was invited to your party. Will I see you there?”
Cal gave the man a smile and gestured into the room. “I have other priorities. Tell Val I’m sorry.”
“I’m sure she’ll understand.”
Calvin watched Jane on the hospital bed and cleared his throat before entering.
“Jane?”
Her eyes opened, and her expression softened. “Calvin.”
He stood by the bed, feeling like such a looming presence. Cal crouched and took her outstretched hand. “How are you?”
“Honestly?” Jane blinked slowly. “Pretty amazing. You should try it.”
Calvin laughed. “I’m glad to see you still have a sense of humor.”
“It feels like I woke up from a dream.”
Calvin pointed to the lit cupcake. “Is that what I think it is?”
The flame reflected off her perfect skin, and she passed it to him.
“What are you asking for?” she asked.
He blew out the candle. “I’ve already got my wish.”
____________
Jane ran.
She checked the map in her visor and counted down the remaining one thousand meters until she reached the end of Valles Marineris. Jane glanced to the side, where Sanya sweated and cursed about blisters on her feet.
Jane ignored her and kept at it until the simulation finished. She walked as the treads slowed, and removed the visor, staring at the wall. “I did it.”
“I told you it was possible,” Sanya said.
Jane sighed in disbelief. “Thank you for everything.” She had a new lease on life, and she wasn’t going to waste it.
“All authorized personnel to the bridge,” a mechanical voice said.
She went with Sanya, walking the halls of Passage with a towel draped around her neck. “I could use a shower.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing. Just another issue with the colony we’ll have to fix.” Sanya opened the door to the bridge, and Jane gazed at the top, reading the duplicated message from Excursion. Through the stars we find our home.
Calvin, Luke, Henry, Linus and Atticus waited for them impatiently.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
Linus motioned to Atticus. “My assistant has uncovered another file.”
Jane’s heart sped up.
“Can you guys pick up the pace here? The suspense is killing me,” Luke said.
“We know who built the Oniri Band,” Henry told them.
“Nope. Not going to happen.” Luke paced the bridge. “Can’t we let it be?”
Jane wanted to agree with Luke, but she locked eyes with Calvin. He nodded once and motioned for the Slab. “Where are they?”
“On a distant world I’ve named Logos. It’s attainable through a series of wormholes,” Henry said.
Calvin ran a hand over the captain’s chair. “Is it wise?”
“Humanity won’t reach their potential by staying static.”
Sanya leaned on the doors. “Is that what we’ve been doing?”
Henry turned on a feed, showing his Automatons loading Passage’s cargo hold with supplies. “They’ll be done within the day.”
Calvin powered up the dash and ran a simulation of the journey to Logos. “When do we leave?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
THE END
OF
LOGOS (LINK BOOK THREE)
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