Awakening on Orbis (7 page)

I ignored Queykay and examined the circular room. It was filled with Citizens and bathed in a soft blue light from huge crystals lodged in the ceiling. Some aliens were draped in clothes that sparkled under the godly light, while others wore fitted suits with their Citizen’s emblem displayed prominently, as if their arrogance wasn’t enough to announce their status. I found Ketheria engulfed in some sort of ceremonial chair at the center of the room under the brightest crystal. I could swear the air around her seemed to sparkle. She was dressed in a pure white version of the robes we all wore.

“Wow,” Max whispered.

I hung back, watching the crowd watch Ketheria. With each delicate move she made, an anxious shiver rippled through the crowd. Ketheria’s hair seemed fuller and longer, covering most of the silver band that was still wrapped around her head. The amber crystal at the center glowed brighter than I remembered.

“She looks different,” Max said.

“It’s scary,” I said.

“These people worship her.”

“That’s even scarier.”

Aliens dressed in navy jumpsuits and masked in ashen helmets that extended beyond their chins to form narrow chest plates kept the perimeter of the room clear. Queykay strode along the open passage, and Max and I followed. When we stepped onto the riser supporting Ketheria and her chair, she saw us.

“JT!” she exclaimed. She stood up and glided over to hug me. I swear her feet never touched the ground.

Over her shoulder, I watched the crowd react to her affection. Their admiration now seemed to consume me as well.

“Are you all right?” I whispered. “The last time I saw you, you didn’t look too good. I was worried.”

“I’m wonderful,” she said, squeezing me tighter. “I feel fantastic.”

She pulled away and then hugged Max. “I’ve missed you so much,” she gushed.

“Me, too,” Max replied.

Then Ketheria took Max’s hand and placed it in mine. She smiled at Max, and I felt my skin flush. Then I saw them. Her eyes. Ketheria’s pupils were gone. Well, they were still there, but they were strange-looking. As if the glow was still circulating through her eyes, weaving through her irises, surfacing occasionally, and then settling back where her pupils once were. I caught Max staring.

“There’s so much to do,” Ketheria exclaimed. “So much.”

“What?” I asked. “What do you have to do?”

“We!
We
get to do it.”

Just then Queykay began to address the crowd. “The Trading Council is pleased with your presence. The honorable Citizen Hach Ba Fay and myself welcome you, our closest friends, to this privileged viewing, but as you are aware, the Scion will not receive guests until the next phase,” Queykay announced. “The Scion must begin her work. Believe me when I tell you how excited I am that the Universe has chosen a Scion from among us. It echoes our belief that the Rings of Orbis are truly an important place. Again, the Trading Council thanks you for your patronage, and we are looking forward to a long and special relationship with the Scion. I am personally handling her security for the Trading Council, so everyone can leave here knowing that she is safe. You are all welcome to return to hear the Scion speak at the Cycle of Witnessing. Admission to this rare and distinguished event will be available for a nominal fee.”

Many in the crowd moaned, but most turned for the door. No complaining, no pushing or shoving, just an orderly reaction to Queykay’s announcement. As the visitors streamed out, six Nagool masters squeezed in and waited patiently in the wings.

Ketheria acknowledged them and then whispered to us, “We’ll talk more later. I have so much to tell you.”

She turned away and moved toward the Nagools.

“Ketheria?” I said, but the Nagools had swallowed her up. I felt cheated. Where was my little sister? Who was this diplomat they had replaced her with? Queykay nudged me toward the door.

“Don’t touch me,” I spat, not caring whether he’d punish me for my rudeness.

Queykay squeezed my shoulder, digging his fingers into my skin.

“Do as you’re told, knudnik,” he sneered.

“But why do I have to leave? She’s my sister.”

“That is irrelevant. She is far more important than that label. Now, do as you’re told and run along, knudnik.”

I reached across with my robotic arm and grabbed Queykay’s wrist. I applied just enough pressure to make him grimace and his fingers retract from my skin.

“Do not underestimate me,” I warned him.

“JT, what’s gotten into you?” Max cried. “Stop it!”

Then I felt a stinging sensation run up my arm as if something bit me. I pulled away, and Max grabbed my wrist, dragging me toward the door. I looked back and caught Queykay smirking.

Outside the room, Max continued to drag me away from everyone else. When we were alone, she pushed me up against the wall.

“What are you doing?” she hissed.

“What am
I
doing?

“Yes! That’s a Trading Council member you just assaulted. Do you want to get thrown into one those blue cells again, or worse? What’s wrong with you?”

“With
me
? There’s nothing wrong with me. I want to see Ketheria! If that even is Ketheria. Did you see her eyes?”

“Yes, her eyes seemed a little strange, but she said it herself: she feels fantastic. You should be happy right now.”

“Well, I’m not. That’s not my sister in there. She’s changed.”

“You’re the one who’s changed, JT. You avoid me for a whole phase — I have no idea why. You freak out at the slightest thing and then disappear into thin air.”

“It has to do with her. I’m sure of it.”

“Then what happened at Kasha’s? Ketheria wasn’t there. It was just you getting angry again. Soon you’ll be jumping who-knows-where around the ring.”

“If I could just talk with —”

“I don’t have time for this. Figure it out and let me know.” With that, she turned and stormed away.

“Max! Wait!”

I stood frozen, my brain unhinged, waiting for any part of my consciousness to take control. My body ached as the sound of Max’s boots against the hard floor faded.
Go after her!
But I turned to find Ketheria instead.

I returned to the hall where I had left my sister. I didn’t feel completely in control. I was relieved to not feel the nausea and headaches I had been experiencing for phases, but still I felt different. I had an overwhelming urge to be near my sister. I only hoped nothing was wrong. I found the room still lit, but empty. I spotted another door at the back of the room behind Ketheria’s chair. I slipped through it and moved quietly, hoping Ketheria was still inside with the Nagools.

“Ketheria?” I whispered. The room was so still that I could hear my own heartbeat.

I moved into another room, hoping to find Ketheria, but instead I found two Space Jumpers guarding an archway. I knew my sister was through there.

When they saw me, the Jumpers stiffened and closed the space between them. I hesitated but tried to act as if I was supposed to be there. As I moved toward them, the Space Jumper on my left said, “She’s not seeing anyone right now.”

“I’m . . . I’m the Tonat,” I lied, hoping it would work.

“The Tonat? Really?” the other one said. “As far as I understand, you’ve chosen
not
to be one of us. Instead, you let the insects who run the Council do what you were born to do. Where is the courage in that? Now, get out of here before you get hurt.” His words hissed through a face mask that covered the lower part of his face.

“Well, then, tell my
sister
that her
brother
wants to see her.”

“Go home,
popper,
” scoffed the first one.

“What does that mean?”

The other one gave a knowing grunt.

I moved forward, trying to squeeze between them. They both reached for their weapons and pressed their shoulders together. The clacking of metal and the hum of their plasma rifles changed my mind.

“Ketheria!” I shouted. “Ketheria!”

It felt childish, but what else could I do? It was my
sister
back there. Why couldn’t I see her?
They would let you pass if accepted your destiny. You are the Tonat,
someone whispered inside my head. It wasn’t Vairocina — that’s for sure. The voice rattled me. I stumbled back, waiting to hear it again.

“Go home,” one of them growled.

“I don’t have a home!”

“JT?” I heard Ketheria’s voice from inside the room.

“Ketheria! These space monkeys won’t let me through!”

My sister squeezed between the Space Jumpers. “It’s all right,” she told them. “We’re finished.”

Three Nagool masters slid out from behind her and slipped away. My skin prickled as their robes brushed against me. One glanced back at Ketheria, and she nodded, smiling. All I could do was stand there and stare. I was not part of Ketheria’s world anymore.

“I’m glad you came,” she whispered to me. “Come. There’s lots I want to tell you.”

“Finally,” I said under my breath.

“Popper,” one of the Space Jumpers muttered as I elbowed my way past them.

Inside Ketheria’s room, I stepped around bowls of fruit and flowers. The same ones I had seen delivered earlier that cycle. Long silks clung to the pale stone walls, and lights seemed to sparkle through pinholes in the rock. The floor was padded with a thick carpet that swallowed up the soft tones that resonated off metallic bowls of water placed about the room like sculptures.

I spotted Nugget sitting in the corner. He saw me as well and jumped to his feet.

“Nugget! What are you doing here?”

“I take care of Ketheria,” he proclaimed, standing in front of me with his fists on his waist and his feet planted shoulder-width apart. The bald little beast had hardly changed. His pink skin seemed a little more burgundy, but he still sported the same thick, protruding lower jaw, and he had it raised proudly (as usual).

“Good for you,” I said.

“Someone has to do it,” he grunted.

I chuckled. “You, too, huh?”

“Let him be,” Ketheria said. “He makes a good bodyguard.”

“Do you need a bodyguard now?” I asked.

“So they tell me.”

I didn’t want to get into an argument with my sister, so I turned away to admire the room.

“What is this place?” I asked.

“It’s my place,” she replied.

“You mean you’re not staying with us?” I knew it was a dumb question.

Ketheria shook her head, smiling and resting herself on a long cushion on the floor near a shallow metal pan. A blue flame flickered from is center. Ketheria tapped the cushion, inviting me to sit, which I did. I couldn’t help but think how much older she seemed.

“Isn’t it amazing?” she gushed.

“Isn’t
what
amazing?”

“All of this,” she replied, stretching her arms out.

“Is it? I wouldn’t know.”

Ketheria frowned. “Why do you have to be like that? Aren’t you the one who always talked about having some sort of purpose on Orbis, something to do? That’s all you ever talked about. I loved listening to your stories about the rings when we were on the
Renaissance.
Now we have everything you ever wanted. Why is this so hard for you to accept?”

“Because I don’t see it that way at all.”

“What do you mean?”

I stood up, feeling an argument coming on again. I inspected the room once more and noticed several antechambers that led from this main room, each with the same sparkling walls. The place was so still, I could hear myself breathe.

“We didn’t get to pick this,” I said, turning back to her. “You didn’t choose to be the Scion. I don’t even know what you are, really.”

“Some things choose us, JT.”

I shook my head. “It doesn’t make sense. Why us? I think they know more and they’re not telling us. That scares me, Ketheria, and it should scare you as well. You know their history, their greed. This doesn’t feel right.”

“Who? Who are you talking about?”

“
Them,
Ketheria. All of
them.
The Trading Council, the Citizens, the Trust, even the Keepers. This is their world, not ours.”

“I’m not the one who has changed, JT. Listen to yourself. This is not the brother I know. You couldn’t wait to get to the Rings of Orbis and start a new life, and now you’re going to be the Tonat.”

“No, I’m not!”

Ketheria cocked her head at me. The swirling in her eyes intensified, and I looked away. It was freaking me out. When I turned back, Ketheria had a large book opened on her lap and she was reading something. The book’s pages were yellowed, and its edges looked tattered.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“It’s a book,” she replied.

“I know that, but why do you have it?”

“The Nagools gave it to me.” Ketheria closed the book and slipped it partly under the cushion. It was too thick to go willingly.

“Don’t do that, Ketheria.”

“Do what?”

“Be like them,” I said. “Toy with your answers when you know the truth. I’m your brother. I deserve the truth.”

“Sit down,” she said. It was an order, and I obeyed.

“You must stop this. It’s only a book. It helps me understand the reactions of those around me. The awakening is not finished yet. There are fourteen stages in all, and there is much I have to learn. That’s why I have this book. That is all, nothing more.”

“What do you have to learn?”

Then Ketheria reached up to the metal band that wrapped around her head and removed it with a click.

“I didn’t know you could do that,” I said.

“The Nagools showed me how.”

Ketheria turned it over and pointed at the underside. “See that?” she said.

I leaned in and saw an OIO symbol carved into the metal behind the amber crystal. “Yeah. What does it mean?”

“The person who made this knew he was making it for me.”

“That’s impossible.”

“That’s the first thing you have to change, JT. Anything is possible. Learn that now. You are so bound to a false vision of how you
think
your life should be that your eyes are closed to everything around you. Don’t feel bad, though. Most of the universe is like that.”

Ketheria pushed the metal crown toward me. “Take it,” she urged.