James Scotson - Planets Falling

“Try to catch us,” Etch rumbles. The sky turns dark, with stars shining brightly. More flashes of light appear and the Fuerst shudders. Etch grunts. “We need somewhere to hide.”

I can see the moon shining brightly before us. Three small metal triangles with red circles on their sides like the one we saw on Troll’s door fly toward us, red beams of light streaking forward. Etch pushes a button on his chair and the moon vanishes in a smear of white. Within a few minutes we are floating within a sea of rocks. Etch says, “We are in what is called the asteroid belt of your solar system. We have eluded the small ships, but the Phobos will be here soon.”

“What’s an asteroid belt?” I ask.

“What is left after a world torn is apart. This is what earth would look like if Melat were able to use the Raven to destroy it and the portal. Planet C9 looked like this after the end.”

A huge ship, similar in shape to the Fuerst, appears before us. “Found you,” Leo says over the communications network.

“Not for long,” Etch chuckles. “We’re equally matched now. Best of luck, Leo.”

The Fuerst lurches forward toward one of the largest rocks. The Phobos follows closely. I cover my face as the Fuerst flips upside down, changing direction. Our pursuer comes to a full stop as we fly forward into a field of small, tumbling boulders. Etch says confidently, “Tractor array, initiate.”

The Fuerst spins, with the rocks following its trajectory. This tractor thing seems to make the rocks stick to the ship like it was covered with thick, invisible glue. More and more rocks accumulate around us, spinning ever faster. Etch grins, “Deactivate array and stop ship.” The rocks fly off of us like rifle shot toward the Phobos. They pepper the Institute ship, causing puffs of vapor to stream out of each perforation.

“Our vessels can absorb energy beams. But their skin is not very tough and poorly resists physical contact with multiple, fast-moving projectiles. A fatal weakness.”

Sections of the Phobos flake off, hurtling silently away. The blue flame of its engines dims.

“They are disabled. It is time for us to hide.”

I’m relieved and feeling weak. “Back to earth?”

“No. The abandoned city of Farmington on the far, space-side of the moon. We can make a few repairs and decide what to do next.”

“What happened to the cities on the moon, Etch?”

“During the past two years, the Institute citizens living there were routinely attacked by the local FRT forces. The FRT finally captured this section of space, and during the siege, the citizens were evacuated. There are a few FRT forces stationed in one of the cities far away from Farmington. The FRT outpost here is likely preoccupied with the Institute presence on earth and won’t notice our little visit.” He pauses. “I hope.”

The Fuerst turns and zips back toward the white orb. Within an hour, we descend into a city of angular white and silver buildings jutting out of the grey powder. This portion of the moon is in shadow, making me wonder what might be hiding in that darkness, waiting for us. Etch knows the area and deftly maneuvers the ship between the towers, settling it under a large awning, where other ships rest, quietly awaiting their pilots. The whole place is spooky.

“Amy, you might like this facility. Farmington is an agricultural and recreational center on the earth moon. I must remain behind to oversee repairs. Minns can escort you and your friends.”

Minns grabs Bets shoulder excitedly. “You all will love this place. I visited it a few years ago before I was assigned to a dismal place called the Platform in deep space.”

“But there be no people here.” Theo counters.

“Better yet Theo. The whole place is automated. We can enjoy it even without people.”

We jump into a small cart that Minns calls a car. The entire city is encased by a very thin roof that’s nearly invisible and maintained by something Minns calls a generator. If the generator were to break, all the air would leave and we would suffocate. I find it odd that people would build a big bubble to live in when there’s a whole world with plenty of air not far away. Minns also says that we would weigh less here if it weren’t for the generator. This makes no sense to me. It apparently has to do with the size of the moon. It’s small and pulls on us less than earth.

The car weaves between the buildings, which break the rich, black sky into orderly sections of stars. Minns turns us toward an expansive building reaching far into the distance. “Most of this building is underground. Amy, you’re going to dig this.”

We descend into a tunnel and drive in subdued light. After a time, the tunnel opens onto a massive, hilly landscape with bright sunshine. We could be in a meadow on earth rather on the surface of the moon.

“What is this place?” I ask.

“It’s a park — for recreation. People come here to enjoy nature, relax.”

This seems so strange to me. Earth is so vast and untamed. Yet, these people need to turn to a subterranean basement to interact with living things. I’m sad that they were evicted from their home. “Where’s the sunlight coming from? We’re on the dark side of the moon, right?”

“It’s a huge reactor. Actually, it works on the same principal as the sun but smaller, of course. Let’s explore a bit. Etch will be calling us back soon.”

Bets and Minns vanish over a small hill in a grove of trees, which look like live oaks. Theo and I are left alone, standing in awkward silence. This is the first time the two of us have been alone since I kissed him in the lodge. “Amy, it’s fine if you want to walk on your own.”

“No, Theo. Let’s talk. We need to clear things between us.”

We walk the opposite direction from our companions toward a placid, turquoise lake. I throw a stick from a strange willow tree in the water, watching it ripple away.

He takes off his boots and wades in. “We’ve been looking up here at the moon our whole lives, wondering what those lights were. Now we know. Gods, how things have changed.”

“Theo, about that night at the lodge. I was confused. Then Wenn came back and he changed. I don’t know what I want anymore.”

“Sprouter, you were right about us. We can’t be running behind Wenn’s back. He’s my brother.”

“So, you don’t feel the same way?”

“Wenn’s had a hard time, but that doesn’t mean we can ignore him. He’s out there looking for Eliza right now.”

“Theo, Wenn’s trying to save his honor. His pride’s more important to him than she — or me for that matter.”

“You’re not being fair. That Fromer fellow’s pretty convincing. Wenn had to do what needed to be done.” He steps out of the water and wiggles his toes in the unnaturally perfect blades of grass.

“Fromer’s manipulating all of this. We’re following some script he has written for us. I don’t believe for a minute that father and Wenn leaving us had anything to do with our safety. Fromer needed them to arm the villagers at Yellow Stone in preparation for a battle. I’m afraid we’re going to be at the center of it all.”

“Amy, have some faith that a higher purpose’s behind this. It’ll all work out. I promise.”

I want to believe him, but I’ve seen and felt too much. I’ve dabbled in the realm of gods and found that they are as flawed and vulnerable as we are. Theo plops down next to me, very close. I swear that I can feel his pulse vibrating through the air. His hand brushes against my knee and my breath catches in my throat. All my doubt and worry channel into something warm, fluid, and so very hungry. I’m kissing him and pushing him into the soft grass. His breath, his skin, his sweat is so real in this artificial place. I submerge myself in him — briefly escaping this reality and finding my way back to the garden of my youth.