Socket 2 - The Training of Socket Greeny (27 page)

We lost over half the Paladin Nation in the
battle and most of the commanding tier. The void of leadership was
filled with inexperience and decisions were slow and
heavily-debated. Mother was needed more than ever. She spent her
time travelling around the world and I spoke to her through
projection more often than in the skin, but I could feel her no
matter how far away she was. I could feel her pulse inside me like
an organic lifeline, and knew when she was well and when she was
stressed.

I spent most of my time in the Preserve.
Before, when I was just a cadet, no one paid much attention to me.
I was a promising cadet, but I was still a cadet. In the eyes of
accomplished Paladins, I was a kid. Nothing more. I still had to
prove something.

But that was then.

I changed the world; maybe even saved the
human race. So now Paladins looked at me with reverence. Sometimes,
fear. I stayed hidden, most of the time. I didn’t want to cause
fear; I wanted them to adjust to the new era. One day, when I was
dead, the stories would make me larger than life. But I was still
alive, there was nothing to fear.

I would not become another Pivot, segregated
from society in my own jungle, reverting to a modern day Tarzan. I
would embrace the Paladin Nation, and, if possible, guide it. For
the path called me to lead, and that would require knowing those
around me. But until things settled, it was just me and the
grimmets.

“All cadets are recognized for their
Realizations.” The Commander had come out to the grimmet tree
alone. “More than ever, we need to recognize this one.”

We need you, Socket Greeny.

When the day came, I reported. It wasn’t so
much for recognition or fame or to prove all those doubters wrong.
The Paladin Nation needed to believe in something. Even though
these were highly evolved humans, the degree of betrayal had
destroyed their trust. Existing without hope was difficult. They
needed something to rally around. Even though I understood there
was nothing to hope for, that the present moment was perfect, the
Paladin Nation needed something to believe until they could see
that for themselves.

I went to the Preserve deck where I had first
met Com. If I knew what he was then, could all that death have been
avoided? I still had a lot to learn about seeing the future and
what I could do about it.

I stood at the edge, watching dusk settle
over the Preserve. The jungle inhabitants greeted the rising moon.
Far away, I saw the barren branches of the grimmet tree. Colors
swirled around it as the grimmets chased insects.

If only Pon could be here. I didn’t want him
at the ceremony, although his expression would be entertaining.
No need for frivolity!
No, I just wanted him to see the
fruits of his labor. There were so many that paved the path on
which I stood, I could only hope that on some other plane of
existence, they could see where it led, that their efforts had not
been wasted. That I was grateful to have walked with them.

Spindle stepped next to me. He was the only
mech to be activated, my special request. His data was backed up
and uploaded to another bodyshell.

“How many times are you going to save my
life?” I asked.

“As long as it is required.”

We paused a bit longer and listened to the
jungle

“It is time,” he said. “The ceremony has
begun.”

“Has Mother made arrangements?”

“All those you requested are in attendance,
awaiting your arrival.”

Yes, Pon would frown on such frivolity, but I
would not waste his efforts. Let’s celebrate the moment. Nothing
frivolous about that. I looked across the Preserve, to the grimmet
tree.

[Come,]
I thought.

The colorful mass spiraled towards us.
Spindle and I went to the door and, before it opened, Rudder
smacked into my palm. Hundreds of wings batted the wind behind us.
We walked down a long corridor, side by side, and entered the only
functional moldable room in the Garrison.

It was a floor and nothing else, like it was
floating in silent space with the stars and planets above and
below. A half circle of Paladin leaders stood in the middle. In
front of them were the people that mattered most. My mother was
there. And, upon my request, Chute and Streeter. The three of them
stood at attention.

It was good to see Streeter distracted by the
technological wonder. I could see his mind already spinning with
all the things he could do with technology like this. Chute,
though, she was smiling. Her hair was down around her face and her
energy was brighter than all those in attendance, pulling me toward
the center.

The grimmets erupted from the tunnel and, for
a moment, buried us in the furious patter of leathery wings. They
circled the platform several times until they were all present,
then filled the empty space on the floor, leaving a path for us to
follow. Spindle took a step back and a spot glowed in the center.
Rudder swung from my fingers as I made the walk.

There was no echo of my footsteps, not even
the rustle of wings. All was silent. The Commander acknowledged my
presence with a slight nod, and then looked skyward. While only a
few Paladins were in actual attendance, the rest were surely
watching the event from around the world.

“It is with great pleasure,” he said, his
voice booming, “to recognize the accomplishment of Socket Pablo
Greeny. The one who sees clearly is truly a gem beyond value, for
he is one that lays the path for us to follow.”

He made eye contact with everyone on the
platform before continuing.

“If there are any in attendance that wish to
speak against the induction and Realization of Socket Pablo Greeny,
this is your moment.” After a long, silent pause, he bowed his
head. “It is an honor, Paladin.”

A raucous shuffle resounded as the grimmets
bowed in unison, all well-behaved. Their eyes were to the ground,
tails curled around their bodies. Mother stepped forward and put
both hands on my shoulders. She gently turned me around so that my
back was to the congregation. Chute and Streeter stepped to each
side.

“There is nothing we can give you to equal
what you have given us,” the Commander said. “For the understanding
you embody is priceless. But, sadly, it does not come without a
cost.”

Mother’s hands tightened.

“In honor of all those that lost their
lives,” he said, “a memorial is launched.” A bright light emerged
from below the lip of the platform and seemed to be far out in
space, a long tail trailing behind it. “May its glory blaze
throughout the universe until the end of time, so that they may
never be forgotten.”

The comet slowly streaked away and we watched
it shrink into the distance. Nothing was said. Nothing stirred. The
ceremony was for all of us. For the world. For all existence. And
then I realized where home was. It wasn’t in the Preserve or a
house in South Carolina. It was here, in existence. It was right
this moment.

I put my arms around Chute and Streeter.
Chute laid her head on my shoulder and we watched the comet until
it was a tiny point of light glittering through the constellation
of the Big Dipper. We watched it with wonder.

We watched it right here and now.

Tony Bertauski lives in Charleston, SC with
his charming wife, Heather, and two great kids, Ben and Maddi. He’s
a teacher at Trident Technical College and a columnist for the Post
and Courier. He’s published two textbooks. He previously published
The Discovery of Socket Greeny
and was also a 2008 winner of
the SC Fiction Contest for his short story entitled,
4-Letter
Words.
You can always find out more at
http://bertauski.com.