Adrift (The Sirilians Book 1) (21 page)

Thanks.
Karo’s mind churned. Does that mean she’s still alive?
No.
Where was her chamber? The evidence of her life onboard?
There’s no way.

The message continued.

“I won’t bore you with the details, but it hasn’t been an easy trip, and we’re still on the other side of the galaxy. I thought I could find a race to help me, but it’s been…” he glanced away as if looking at a clock. “Four years, three months, and two days. I still haven’t found any advanced enough.”

His expression turned to one of desperation. “The effects of being alone for so long are beginning to be debilitating. I miss her
so much
. I can’t sleep, haven’t eaten. I work on LINK to pass the time, but I know that she was right: I can’t handle being alone.”

He stopped to rub his eyes, and when he spoke again his voice sounded determined.

“I realized that the best chance for her survival was for me to forget her and hop through time. I’ve worked for weeks to reprogram LINK and alter my base point to remove all memories of her. From now on, each time I’m in stasis my memories will be reset along with my body, and I won’t know that she even existed.

“I’m sorry for having done this to you—to myself—but there’s no other way. I can’t go on like this, and I must; her life depends on me, and I cannot fail! You
must
save her!”

The message suddenly ended, but Karo remained staring at the blank console, willing it to give him more information. How was he supposed to save someone when he didn’t know where she was?

No sooner had he finished the thought then he heard a loud series of clicks from the cargo door. It had unlocked.

Aevum sat at her console staring at the blank vid screen. She’d just finished watching a recorded message that Karo had sent her. He’d told her that the solar flare had made impact with Siril’s eastern hemisphere. His tone had been grave, and he didn’t need to tell her that the people on that side of the planet hadn’t fared well.

He’d also explained that his department had decided to accelerate the Scout mission’s timeline. He warned her that in the days to come he’d be working long hours to meet his deadline, and would be coming home exhausted.

His dedication to his job didn’t upset Aevum. What was causing her angst was that he’d also told her that he’d declined the opportunity to be a Scout.

He’d barely mentioned it; he’d said it as one would say a passing thought, but Aevum could see the disappointment etched into the lines of his face. His expression remained ingrained into her mind, and his words replayed over and over.

“I was asked to be a Scout but declined. My commitment now is to make sure that the twelve people chosen are able to leave for space as soon as they can. The sooner they leave, the sooner we can learn of potential risks to our planet, and develop plans for their diminution.”

Aevum’s mind spun. This was his dream: to explore space, push the boundaries and their understanding of the universe. The last thing she wanted was for him to leave—just the thought made pain bloom in her breast—but knowing that he’d be disappointed for the rest of his life was far worse.

She knew that he was declining because of her. She’d opened her big mouth and forced him to understand why single-manned missions were wrong. But she also couldn’t deny that she hoped he didn’t want to leave her.

The fact that he was staying should have made her feel elated—maybe that emotion was inside of her somewhere—but right now all she felt was sorrow. Karo had worked his entire life for an opportunity like this, and she didn’t want to be the cause of disappointment in anyone’s life, especially not his.

How am I going to fix this?

She couldn’t persuade him that he’d be alright alone; she’d never be able to lie convincingly enough to him.

What if he’s not alone?
Aevum sat up straight in her chair, and her mind immediately began to run wild with possibilities.
What if I went with him?

She loved exploring space. It had always been the favorite part of her work, so it would be a dream to explore farther than anyone, especially if she was sharing the experience with Karo.

Aevum put a palm to her chest, as if that would calm her wildly beating heart.
How am I going to make this happen?

The Scouts were scheduled to depart in two weeks. That didn’t give her a lot of time. She needed some very powerful people on her side to convince Karo’s commander of her proposition. Thankfully she knew two people who were potentially capable of helping.

Aevum knew what she had to do.

Her fingers quickly accessed the population’s database through her console and found Kishi, Karo’s mother. Surprisingly, she was able to reach the woman, and after explaining the situation to her, they agreed to meet at Kishi’s home. Aevum wasn’t eager to see Karo’s mother, especially without him as a buffer, but she would do anything to make sure that he didn’t throw away the opportunity of a lifetime.

Bounding with hope, she hurriedly dressed and grabbed her wristunit as she dashed out of her room and, hopefully, towards an exciting new path in her life.

Karo entered his family’s building and felt like he was trudging through the doors. He was happy with his decision to stay planet-side, especially if he was with Aevum, but not even the prospect of a future with her could eliminate all of the disappointment he felt. Exploring the far reaches of space had been a dream of his since he was a child. But Karo now realized that dreams changed.

He would always be a little disappointed that he wasn’t up there with Reus among the stars.

He was lost in thought as he headed up the stairs towards his room to pack another bag of clothing to take to Aevum’s house, but an unfamiliar sound made him stop; conversation came from the nearby sitting room.

His parents often worked late at the High Council Building, and regularly entertained guests at their offices rather than bring them into their private home. Curious, Karo followed the voices, and was shocked to hear another voice that he recognized: Aevum’s. Karo entered the room to see his mother and father sitting across from her.

“What’s going on here?” he asked, perplexed and a little anxious at what he was seeing
.
Aevum smiled at him but his parents’ expressions were of censure.

“Karincin, that is no way to greet your mother and I, nor Aevum,” his father chastised.

The last thing Karo was in the mood for was a lecture on decorum from his parents but he managed to keep the irritation out of his voice. “My apologies, father, but this is very… unexpected.”

His father’s response was cut-off by Aevum interjecting. “Karo, why don’t you come and sit down. We have something to tell you.”

Karo was not in the mood to deal with his parents, but when Aevum held out her hand toward him, Karo came and sat next to her on the lounger. She sandwiched his hand between her own, and smiled brightly at him.

Seeing her face after such a strenuous day reinforced his decision. He couldn’t help but give her a small smile in return.

“After I received your message this afternoon I contacted your mother and told her what happened,” Aevum began.

Karo’s anxiety was replaced by a wave of dread. It was
never
good for his parents to interfere with his life.

“Look, if you’re all here to try and convince me to accept the Scout mission, then you’re going to fail. I’m not going.”

“You
will
go,” Rifka stated flatly. “We’ve already made an agreement with Commander Counnas to reinstate you as a Scout, and in return we’re going to make a sizable donation to your department.”

Karo couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You’re
bribing
my Commander?”

“I am certainly not!” his father retorted.

Aevum quickly interjected. “Karo, the money isn’t a bribe. You’ve told me on several occasions that one of the reasons the Scouts are being sent by themselves is because of the resources required to send multiple people. Your parents are giving your department a donation so that they will retrofit your ship for an additional person to go on the mission with you.”

Karo’s mind spun. Another person? That was great, but solitude was only one of the reasons Karo didn’t want the assignment.

“I appreciate the gesture, but I have not changed my mind.” He turned his body to face Aevum and saw emotions swimming in the depths of her eyes. “I cannot be separated from you for that long. Actually, I don’t
ever
want to be apart from you.”

Tears gathered in Aevum’s lashes and she smiled. “I don’t want to be without you either. That’s why I’m going into space with you.”

Karo shook his head slightly, sure he was hearing her wrong, but her face showed nothing but sincerity and happiness.

“You’re… you’re coming with me? Why would you do that?”

“Because I love you!” she exclaimed. Karo’s eyes went wide, and hers skiittered away from his, as if she were suddenly embarrassed. When she continued, her voice was softer.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I can’t allow you to throw it away because of me. I care about you too much to let you do that.”

Karo’s mind spun.
She loves me?!
His heart soared. There was no denying the fact that he loved her too—more than he’d ever loved anyone in his life—but he didn’t want her to give up her future for him.

“But what about your job, your family?” he asked.

Her eyes met his again. “My parents will understand. They’ve always taught me to follow where my heart leads, and that’s to you. As for my job, this is a dream assignment for me, too. What better way to discover and study new cultures than on a long-term space mission? My department will love the idea.”

She said it with such conviction that Karo didn’t know how to respond. Words felt frozen in his throat, so instead, he reached for Aevum and enveloped her in his arms. He kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes tightly against the tears that were welling. A single thought replayed in his mind:
She’s going with me!

Karo approached the closed cargo door, apprehension and excitement slithering down his spine. He heard Deian and LINK from somewhere close-by, but couldn’t find his voice to call for them. His hand shook slightly as he pressed his palm to the control panel to open the doors. They slid open slowly, as if they’d been closed for so long that they were nearly stuck.

Inside, the room was pitch black.

Karo took one step over the threshold, and blinked a few times to get his eyes to adjust. He saw small illuminations in the dark, and although his legs felt leaden, he forced himself to take a step into the room. He headed for the small lights, which he soon discovered were attached to a much larger object.

His heartbeat quickened while his lungs breathed in air that was stale and uncirculated.

He moved around the edge of the object to get a better look, and felt like he was struck in the chest. The lights were familiar; ones he’d seen daily for many years.

Karo stood in shock as he realized that the object which had been locked away by his own hand was a regeneration chamber. The lights were readouts showing that the chamber was occupied.

Aevum.

She hadn’t been a hallucination; she was real.

Karo’s legs went weak, and he caught himself on the edge of the chamber with his palm.
She wasn’t dead!
His recording had been right. He hadn’t been alone all these years; she’d been on the mission with him.

Questions swam inside Karo’s head, but he focused on what the chamber’s indicator lights showed: something was wrong with her, and nothing else mattered at the moment other than helping the woman trapped inside.

“Deian!” Karo shouted, no trouble finding his voice this time. “Get Doctor Notani in here right away.”

Out of the corner of his eye he saw the man come to a halt in the doorway. Immediately he raised his comm unit.

“I have an emergency and need a medical team in the quarantine bay.”

Deian moved slowly into the room and knelt next to Karo. He studied the small display of lights and asked quietly, “Do you know who’s inside?”

“Aevum.” Karo could hear the pain in his own voice.

Deian’s brows knit together. “Who’s Aevum?”

“I think she’s my mate.” He looked into Deian’s green eyes which were round with surprise. “She’s sick. We have to save her.”

Deian nodded and rubbed his palm up and down Karo’s back in a comforting gesture.

“We will do everything we can.”

Karo nodded.

Soon he heard hurried footsteps and saw Doctor Notani round the doorway. It took her a moment to absorb the scene in front of her.

“Oh my goodness,” she gasped. Security officers arrived on her heel and quickly scanned the cargo bay for threats. Karo knew there wouldn’t be any, but he stayed where he was and let them work around him in the tight confines.

When it was cleared, Notani made several attempts to scan Aevum through the chamber’s walls, but it was nearly impossible to get an accurate picture of her health while she was inside.

“The Medical Unit would be able to get a clearer picture. If we could just bring her out of stasis…”

“No!” Karo yelled. The sound echoed in the small space. He took a deep breath and tried to keep his voice calm. “She’s in there because she’s sick and I had no way to cure her.”

“How do you know this? Have your memories continued to surface?” the doctor asked.

“No. There was a message… I recorded a message to myself and encoded it. I was only just able to uncover it.”

“Did it say what kind of disease she has?” the doctor asked.

“Yes, but I don’t know enough about it.”

“I do.”

Everyone jumped as LINK’s sudden statement broadcasted through the numerous speakers throughout the ship. In the dark cargo room his voice sounded eerily disembodied.

“Before initiating your memory purge, you uploaded her medical file and all known medical documentation regarding her illness into my matrix.”

Karo closed his eyes in relief, but the feeling was quickly followed by anger. LINK had played a huge part in the deception.

You programmed him to do it.
The echoing thought did little to temper his resentment, his feelings of betrayal. His only friend had been lying to him for millennia. He’d never felt so utterly alone.

But I’m not alone anymore.

He looked down at the chamber and placed his palm against the cold surface. He wasn’t alone. This woman had once been vital to his existence.

You must save her!
His own words echoed in his mind.

He had every intention of doing just that.

*****

Karo planted himself at the foot of the stasis unit, where he could see everything happening inside the small room. Several doctors had brought equipment in the hopes of boosting their scanning capabilities, while LINK had transferred Aevum’s medical files and all pertinent information to Notani, who was diligently going through every page.

No one spoke to him. He wasn’t surprised, since he stood with his arms crossed over his chest, feet braced apart as if he were gearing for a fight. His expression was keeping people away too.

He seethed with emotions, all battling for supremacy inside his mind. He was furious with LINK for the deception, mad at himself for not being able to remember this woman. Mostly he was mad at himself.

He’d
let this happen.

She’d become ill, then was forced to sleep while he failed for years upon years to find a cure. He’d been so weak-minded that he hadn’t been able to handle being alone, and had resorted to removing his own memories to cope.

How many times over the millennia had he found an advanced race that could have saved her? With his memories gone, he wouldn’t have even known to ask them for help.

Weak, pathetic, and certainly not a man worthy of her.

Disgust for himself burned through his chest. He deserved any discomfort his emotions gave him. It was his fault that Aevum was like this. He had been furious with LINK for keeping him locked in suspended animation for centuries at a time, but he’d done far worse to the one person he was supposed to put above everyone else and protect.

“Karo?” The feminine voice pulled him from his self-deprecation. Jayda stood next to him.

“Notani is hoping that you know something about the chamber’s power supply. Would it be possible to move it to the Medical Center without disrupting it?”

Karo nodded. “The power is contained within the unit itself. Moving it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“That’s good. Will you help us?”

Of course he would help. He’d do everything he could for Aevum.

It took several men to lift the chamber onto a hovering dais, but once there, it was easily taken from the cargo bay to the Medical Center. Karo kept contact with the unit, but finally stepped back a few feet to let the doctors continue their efforts. His back hit a wall, and he felt himself slide down to sit against it.

He felt so helpless.

Jayda silently joined him, but Karo refused to allow himself to be comforted by her presence. He didn’t deserve it. The guilt he felt was like a creature living inside of him that was tearing through his body and psyche. The worst was not remembering that she had even been onboard the ship.

She’d been locked inside the small room.
Alone.
For millenia.

Finally, Karo couldn’t stand it any longer; he needed to do something… anything! He jumped up from his place on the floor, startling everyone.

“We have to wake her!” he declared to no one in particular.

Lukas rose to his side. When had he joined them? “We can’t do that yet; not until the doctors know more about her illness, and devise a treatment.”

Karo looked at him desperately, not knowing exactly what he needed or expected the man to do.

“Come on, let’s go for a walk,” Lukas encouraged. Karo allowed himself to be led out of the Med Center and through the ship. When Lukas stopped, they were in an area that Karo didn’t recognize. At least they were alone.

Karo felt better once he was in a larger room where the walls weren’t closing in around him. He paced the floor and ran his palms over his head. A part of his mind noticed that he’d been sweating.

Lukas stood quietly, hands inside his pants pockets, and watched Karo’s movements. He seemed content to wait until Karo was ready to speak.

Karo finally blurted the words that had been racing through his mind.

“It’s my fault.”

“What is?”

“Aevum being trapped in the regeneration chamber. It was me who erased her from my memories. I reprogrammed LINK to change my timeline and lock the cargo bay doors so I wouldn’t stumble upon her.”

Karo expected disapproval from Lukas, but the man’s voice remained steady as he watched Karo’s agitated movements.

“How do you know that?”

“I decrypted a message that I recorded for myself. It explained everything.”

“Does the message explain
why
you did all those things?”

“Yes, but that doesn’t matter. I did something reprehensible to that woman.”

Lukas stepped in front of him and placed his hands on Karo’s shoulders.

“It
does
matter,” Lukas argued. He looked directly into Karo’s eyes and held the man’s gaze.

“I haven’t known you for very long, but I’m absolutely certain you wouldn’t have gone to such lengths if it wasn’t for a
very
good reason. You’re an honorable man, Karincin.”

Am I?
Karo’s shoulders slumped. Lukas pulled him into a hug, and Karo held onto the man for a moment, embracing the comfort.