Emergence (16 page)

“The only advantage you may have,” he said, as they walked through the corridors, “is that I’ve spread word of your help, and it is traveling fast. Your discovery has answered questions that have lingered for generations, and nothing is more valuable to a scientist than answers.”

As they stood in front of the council doors, she looked up into his deep violet eyes, hoping that he would hold her again.

“Thank you for all your support.”

“It’s the least I owe you,” he said gently, “after all you’ve done.”

She watched as he reached over and opened the door, her heart sagging as he refrained from touching her.

“Be strong, Melissa,” he said as they walked in. “Be deferential, but show no fear.”

Melissa stood not just in front of Sliona, but in front of fifteen wilāya of the Daїra who sat behind a long, weathered desk, wearing frowns. Behind her was a restless audience of over a hundred, and she was told a microphone relayed this conference to the other scientist-cities.

“Who do you think you are?” demanded one of the wilāya, a tall, broad-shouldered man who reminded her of Ghaja, one of her old instructors.

“How do we even think of harboring an Archsussa?” yelled a thin, bony old hag with glistening golden eyes. She leveled a long finger at Melissa. “Your people are responsible for all the death visited on the Levitating Cities. And while we frowned on how they lived, we sit aghast at the way they died!”

Murmurs of approval echoed through the hall. Melissa felt scared, but not terrified, as there was no device now that could mute her sussa. Richard sat behind her, with Daria next to him.

They were up arguing all night. I hate what I’ve done to her, but . . . to think, he’s mine!

“She has provided considerable assistance to our scientific endeavors,” ventured Richard, standing up. “Without her, we –”

“When your testimony is needed, it will be asked for,” rebuked the same golden-eyed woman. “We appreciate your contributions, but please remain silent until asked to speak!”

Richard quietly sat down, and a part of Melissa sunk, wondering if she would have no defenders.

“So who are you, exactly?” asked the broad-shouldered wilāya.

“I am Melissa Drusciana, last survivor of the Drusciana Order. I am an Archsussa.”

“No, you’re not an Archsussa
yet
,” sneered a young, blonde-haired woman seated next to Sliona. “Do you even know what it means to be an Archsussa?”

Melissa felt cornered. Se felt like this was the last place she should assert her knowledge and power, but she hated to be belittled by anyone.

“I . . . I think I do, that is, I’m learning what I can and can’t do with my power.”

She harrumphed. “When you learn what you should and shouldn’t do with your power, then perhaps you will be an Archsussa. Of all people, of all those gifted with your talents,
you
should know.”

Melissa watched as the woman sat back, feeling something eerie had transpired. The wilāyas continued, seemingly oblivious to the exchange.

They went on for several hours, asking about her background, her motives for exploring the ancient ships, her reasons for trying to escape. Few broached the subject of her voyage back through time and into space, and Melissa thought it might play too much in her favor.

I wish there was someone here to help me
, she thought.
Sliona barely asks a question – I can see she supports me, but she does nothing to help me
.

“How do we know you’re not an agent of the Nemesnik? You are his sister, after all.”

“Toby – uh, the Nemesnik is my brother, but we disagree about how to live. That is why I ran from him, and why your people captured me.” She couldn’t help by cry. “I’ve told so many people that over and over and yet no one seems to want to believe me!”

“Hysterics will get you nowhere little girl,” rebuked the golden-eyed wilāya. “Only facts, pure and simple! We are a community of scientists and educators; men and women of the logical mind. Your ‘sussa’ is almost a manifestation of violent, errant emotions, and we will have none of either here!”

“Agreed!” shouted most of the other wilāyas.

“This has gone on long enough. I recommend we banish this heretic from all our communities! She has no place among us.”

“Agreed!” yelled one.

“Agreed!” yelled another.

“Exactly what brand of fools are you?” yelled a voice from the back of the room. Melissa whirled and found it was Vincent, who strutted down the aisle with a darkened brow.

“You have no leave to speak!” shouted the broad-shouldered wilāya, jumping from his seat.

“Your ignorance demands I speak. You would banish her; would you banish all she has revealed to us? Like it or not, this world is divided. Half follow our teachings; the principles of scientific enquiry, while the rest follow the path of the Archsussa. Would you kill all them off? Or would you try to build a bridge?”

“She is the heir apparent,” continued Vincent, “the
rightful
heir and she is voluntarily working with us. The second Richard turned off the suppression device she could have flown off, or leveled our entire compound. Instead she sits meekly before you, submitting herself to your judgment. Are you so bitter at the wrongs others have committed against you, that you would exact vengeance upon her, an innocent? There is a time for war, and a time for reconciliation. After so much devastation, so much pain, it doesn’t take a fool to know what is right, right now!”

The audience erupted into spontaneous applause, and the council members sat back in their chairs, watching the mood of the people turn. Melissa saw a slight smile creep over Sliona’s wrinkled lips, giving her some hope.

“Have you entered into evidence the great good she has done for us?” pressed Vincent, his eyes full of passionate fire. Melissa had never seen him so animated, so alive. “Do all our communities know of the mysteries she has solved? And make no mistake; she did it with sussa. Without sussa we would still be in the dark.”

“We would have come to the solution; we would have found that ship!” scoffed one of the wilāyas.

“When?” demanded Vincent. “In a hundred years? Three hundred? A thousand? You of your generation may have the patience of a melting snowdune, to sit calmly and wait for the sun to do its work, but my generation is tired of waiting! Tired of hating. We want to move forward, and use every bit of technology to help us, whether it is of science or sussa. Stop thinking of sussa as some abomination, and think of it as another use of the mind. Have faith in our people that they won’t try to turn their cities into imitations of the decadent Levitating Cities; have faith that they will use sussa to explore where we have never gone before, learn what would have taken us too long before!”

The crowd erupted in thunderous applause, and it was then Melissa noticed most of them were near her age.
Somehow, someone stacked the deck in my favor. Do I have Richard, or Vincent to thank?

As the wilāyas conversed among themselves, Sliona rose to her feet. All in the room grew silent as she spoke.

“I, like most of you, hated the Archsussa, and in my heart have been determined to eradicate them from the face of Iqui. Melissa though, has changed my mind. She –”

As Sliona spoke, Melissa couldn’t help but look back at Vincent, who stood proudly in the center aisle, his gaze unwavering on the wilāyas. She had thought him weak before, embittered by what Richard had done, but now she saw fire in his eyes. With his arms folded over his chest, he reminded her of how her father looked in his prime. Perhaps it was that memory that moved her gaze from him, and onto Richard.

“—so we may be scientists, but we cannot govern without pity. I vote that we allow Melissa to be a free citizen, a
protected
citizen; a part of our community!”

The crowd again jumped to their feel in support of Melissa, chanting her name and cheering. The broad-shouldered wilāya banged his gavel ten times before quiet was once again restored.

“Against all our laws,” he said slowly, “we make an exception; Melissa Drusciana is given safe harbor amongst us, and equal status!”

The crowd erupted in cheers, and Melissa couldn’t help but cry. She turned to Vincent, who nodded back at her with a thin smile.

After the trial, she couldn’t help it; she was still fatigued. But this time her hunger won, and she asked for food to be delivered to her room. Heaping plates of steaming food were delivered by men and women beaming with smiles. All of them thanked her, and Melissa couldn’t help but cry, she felt so appreciated.

Everything looked so good, she didn’t know where to start. Several plates of different kinds of meat beckoned to her, cradled with sprouts and boiled roots. But it was the sinful sugary smell of two towering cakes that called to her the most.

I’ve gone through so much; I deserve it
.

She cut a big slice -- something her mother would never have let her done, and plunged in. She thought she had never tasted anything so utterly delicious in her life. And just as she put the second bite in her mouth, there was a knock at the door.

More food?

She opened the door, and saw the last person she expected to see.

“Daria?”

“What are you doing, eating?” she asked with a mischievous grin, pulling at her robe. “You need to come down with me – we’re having a fête!”

“But I’m not dressed,” pouted Melissa. “And I haven’t eaten in days! Why don’t you join me?”

“Okay.”

Daria sat across from her and Melissa pushed aside her cake, loading a meager plate with meat and vegetables. Daria put a few sprouts and roots on her plate, and it made Melissa utterly depressed to see how happy she was with so little. Melissa tried to make her meager portion last, but she was too hungry.

“Is that really all you’re gonna eat?”

“Well, yeah,” answered Daria. “Sometimes I go a whole day without eating a thing, there’s so much work to do around here.”

Melissa sighed, debating what to do. “Well, I need to eat! I still feel weak after opening that ribbon.”

Daria reached over and squeezed her hand. “Go ahead -- I don’t mind.”

Melissa was about to pull over a platter, but couldn’t. “Daria . . . I’m sorry . . . about Richard.”

“Don’t be,” she snapped with a quick shake of her head and wipe of her eye. “Richard couldn’t commit to me. I tried and tried, but he’s exhausted me. Maybe you’ll have better luck with him. I told you; I’ve tried everything to make him like me, to make him show some affection towards me. Maybe . . .”

“Maybe what?” asked Melissa.

“Maybe he wanted something dangerous,
someone
dangerous. I mean, you’re forbidden fruit,” she said with a wide smile.

“Never been called that before,” she muttered, taking another bite.  

For almost an hour they sat and talked as Melissa finally got to feel full. Each told the other about their childhoods, and they were surprised at how much they had in common. Daria had a father that was lost in an avalanche, and a brother who lived in another community, ostracized by those he grew up with and banished by the council.

“So, now that you’re full, come on and get ready! We have a fête to go to.” She stood back, and examined Melissa from head to toe. “You do need some new clothes, but I don’t think I have anything that fits you.”

In an instant Melissa was reminded of how much weight she gained, and she slowly cut another slice of cake. “No, that’s alright. I should just stay in.”