Nick James - Crimson rising

“How?” Eva asks.

He glares at her. “Our home became unstable years ago-tremors that evolved into great fissures. Haven was eating itself alive. Self-destructing.” He pauses. “Some blamed it on our actions. Others took a more philosophical stance. Everything has an expiration date. Either way, an evacuation was called for.”

My memory fills with historical videos the teachers made us watch about the founding of the Skyships, crowds of people taking off from the chemical-stained Surface in search for a better life. It helps me visualize Ryel’s words. Otherwise it’s too big to imagine.

“It was gradual,” he continues, “especially at first. Dayto-day, it was easily ignored. The Authority looked to the stars for suitable replacements. They found Earth. Led by King Matigo, they sought to send a battalion to conquer. This planet was large and plentiful with resources. With a few adjustments, we could live well here. At your expense, of course.”

“Tell me more about this guy,” I say, forgetting that I’m not supposed to interrupt. “Matigo.”

Ryel doesn’t seem angry. “Number 207. A rare name.”

“He’s a Drifter, like you?”

“Like you. Like us, yes.” His shoulders tense. “He’s a Shifter as well, and a very powerful one. The ability to shift Ridium guaranteed him an important role in our society. With his power and ambition, it didn’t take him long to become the figurehead of the Authority.”

“He’s the leader,” I mutter. “He’s the one.”

“He is dangerous. And he’s on his way.” Ryel pauses. “When Haven’s destruction became imminent, it wasn’t difficult for him to convince our people that invasion was their safest option. Behind closed doors, he’d been planning to conquer other galaxies for years. It was a convenient excuse to… how do you say it… get the ball rolling.” He turns back to me. “And that is what your parents were fighting.”

“I don’t understand,” I reply. “They’d rather die than come to Earth?”

He shakes his head. “They believed there was an alternative. Riskier, and far less luxurious. Others had discovered another planet in a neighboring galaxy. It was closer than Earth and held the resources we would need for survival. Managed right, it could have been a fine home for us. And, most important, it was uninhabited. No need for an invasion. They called it Haven II.

“But Matigo was intent on populating Earth.” He sighs. “The Resistance went behind the Authority’s back. At first they planned to splinter and take Haven II for their own. Start a new society, free from the Authority’s rule. But your parents were too honorable for that. They knew they couldn’t live their lives at peace while Matigo destroyed another planet. They waged war. Gaining supporters wasn’t difficult, especially among those in the outer regions, far from the central cities.”

“Are they alive?” The words pour from my mouth without me realizing it.

“I told you. I’ve never met them.” He leaves it at that and continues his story.

“Outnumbered at every turn, your parents devised the Pearl Transport System to get off-planet and warn the people of Earth. Though he had been born into a life of farming, your father showed a great interest in many of the sciences and eventually became one of the planet’s leading physicists. He found a way to reverse the body’s growth process and shield the resulting material in what has now become known as Pearl Energy. In a way, Pearls are like a portable womb, carrying and protecting bundles of genetic information. Atoms. Molecules.” He pauses. “Utilizing a wormhole at the edge of our galaxy, Pearls were sent to Earth.

“Your parents hoped that if they could get here first, they’d be able to fight back. With the help of humans, of course. When the Authority learned of this, your family was targeted. You and your brother were targeted. You would have been killed, too, if your parents hadn’t managed to get you off-planet before the Authority showed up.”

My whole body shakes. I didn’t notice it before, but my heart’s pounding like a drum. My mind hurtles back to the dream-memory-I had in the security center last spring with Avery. The syringe filled with liquid. The pops and hisses from the small laboratory. The cloudy green energy. There were soldiers there, when my parents put me inside the Pearl and set me loose. The door busted down. There were gun shots.

Ryel bows his head slightly. “That was the night the Authority discovered Pearl technology. They’ve been augmenting it ever since, playing around with the formula. Strengthening it. When they land, they’ll be more powerful than us.” He grits his teeth. “But you have no army. You haven’t done your job. Your parents would be-”

“Don’t say it.” My fingers clench.

“Your leader is incompetent. He fears that we are the invaders, that every Drifter is the same. You people have yourselves to blame for your destruction.”

I wince.

“Where’s your brother? Please tell me he’s still alive.”

“Cassius is… ” I look down at the rocks. “It’s complicated.”

“Can you contact him?”

“I can try.”

“Good.” Ryel stands. “We’ve much to do. Pearls aren’t meant to stay locked.”

I pull myself to my feet. “Don’t you think I know that?”

Eva slinks away. “I’m going to go see about disabling our radar. The longer we stay here, the more likely the Academy will-”

“No.” I hold out a hand to stop her. “I’ll call Cassius inside the shuttle. I want to be alone for a minute.”

Ryel crosses his arms. “You’re the Pearlbreaker, Jesse. Don’t forget it, even for a second.”

“Yeah.” I don’t meet his eyes. Instead, I turn and trudge to the shuttle. I can’t do this without Cassius. Not anymore.

My arms tremble. It’s real, now. These past weeks, it’s been all I can do to stay sane, but now that I know the truth, I’m not sure I can handle it. There are too many things coming at me at once, each stealing a piece of my attention.

Water surrounds me on both sides. My feet sink into the ground. Below me are cities, subway cars, and skyscrapers, all buried by time. A look at our future, perhaps.

There used to be more of Japan. Hell, there used to be more of me.

Cassius sat cross-legged on the stripped floor boards, back against the wall. It had been several hours and Madame hadn’t shown any sign that they’d be leaving the abandoned Fringe building. He wondered if she’d told anyone at the Lodge what was happening. Or maybe she didn’t care. Maybe this had become too personal.

She was off in a different room of the old hotel now. Theo acted as her watchdog, standing just beyond the closed door, guarding. Madame’s voice remained ever present in Cassius’s head. It was only a precaution.

Sit. You’re not needed now. Not yet.

Avery sat on the side of the bed, kicking her heels back and forth, silent. Cassius hadn’t gotten to know her very well last spring. She’d been raised at the Lodge until Madame planted her as a spy in Skyship Academy, but Cassius never remembered seeing her. Of course, back then he’d only been a child. The more he learned, the more he began to doubt his entire opinion of the Lodge. How many kids did Madame have running around, harnessed as weapons?

Avery cleared her throat. “I remember when we were scared of you.”

“You were never scared of me.” He glanced up.

“That’s true. But Jesse was.”

His eyes shifted to the communicator beside her. “What are you gonna say to him if he calls?”

“What Madame told me to. The words she’s forcing into my brain.”

“I can try to dig it out,” he replied. “I ripped the old microchip from my wrist. If you’re not afraid of a little blood-”