Inodded again. “Yes, Father, this might be a good age to take one.”
Helooked at me for a long time, his lips barely moving to the words he dare notsay.
“Goodbye,my child. As your mother would say.”
Ipressed my lips together and closed my eyes for a moment.
ThenI nodded, opened my eyes, and said, “Goodbye, Father. Until a new holocommunication.”
Hisimage disappeared, and I remained seated.
VRA-08 was a code.
Itmeant that we shouldn’t talk about this subject anymore, because it wasdangerous. And recommending rejuvenation actually meant that he was scared formy life. That, should I continue my investigation, I might not live to have mynext rejuvenation cycle at all.
Iclosed my eyes again, thinking of his last words.
Iknew what he wanted to say then, and I knew he couldn’t. It was something my motherwould say when I was small. She’d whisper it in my ear: “I love you.”
Istayed seated for another fifteen passes, trying to pull myself together. Finally,I got up and walked to the food processor. The food was synthesized, and theprocessor had kept it warm. I sat down on the bench opposite the two Senthien moonsand took a bite.
Inthe middle of my supper, the apartment AI announced, “It is twenty-hundred. Theapartment is locked for your safety. Good night and productive dreams.”
Withmy mouth still full of food, I looked up to the ceiling, following thedirection of its voice.
My ownsafety?
I never really understood who wouldwant to intrude into my living quarters when allthe other Senthia inhabitants were locked into their own rooms as well.
I glanced at the time again. In fifteenpasses, the lights would automatically switch off. I needed to hurry with mydinner.
Ifinished most of my food, placed the remains in the recycle bin, and went tothe wardrobe. I put away my clothes and walked to the bedroom.
Isat on my newly assembled bed and automatically took a glass with a clear blueliquid, then took a few sips to clean my mouth and then put the glass back.
Ilay down, and within two passes, the lights turned off.
Iwas lying in the dark with my eyes wide open, my brain buzzing with thoughts.
BeforeI was born, my father had asked for permission to take a sabbatical. Hisrequest had been granted, and we spent six years on the desert world of Fraya Spark,completely secluded from Uni.
Recuperationsabbaticals are not unusual for Senthiens. It’s the only time when they are freeof Visions, because they are not exposed to constant new information flow,which normally triggers predictive Visions. But my father had a very differentreason to ask for a sabbatical. And he is still alive because no one discoveredwhat that reason really was.
Iunderstood why he wanted me to get away. And I hoped that I still could.
Chapter 3
He is a step ahead, and I am following. We arefinding our way through a meshwork of the most amazing plants I have ever seenin my life. I look down at my hand and realize he’s holding it. His hand iswarm and his palm rough. He turns around, smiles broadly, and squeezes my hand.
The soft pressure gives me a feeling of safety, and Ikeep following.
“We are almost there,” he says and turns around.
I am without words. I keep looking at his arm pullingme to follow him. My heartbeat is loud inside my ears, and my lips are dry. Idon’t understand, but I am excited.
“Now, close your eyes. I will guide you,” he says,his teeth pearling on his sunbathed face.
I do what he says.
Iopened my eyes to the pitch black of my apartment.
Himagain.
What did that mean?
Ineeded a revealing Vision to tell me about APC chips, about things I wasn’tsupposed to know. I needed an answer.
Instead,I had a wonderful dream of the person I would never meet.
Iexhaled. The lights turned on, and I closed my eyes briefly. Then, instead ofthe usual question, my AI said, “Dora Dana Dasnan, please report to SeniorSenthien Visionaire Councilor Ra Jodar Sennan, at the Nature Hall numberzero-zero-six-three, in sixty passes.”
Myheart skipped a beat. My usual meeting with Jodar was scheduled in a few days.Why now?
Andwhy was there no request for a Vision report?
Athread of anxiety wrapped around my heart, crawling under my carefullyestablished demeanor. This feeling wasn’t new. I’ve been dealing with this sinceI was six.
Iinhaled slowly, keeping the air in my lungs for a few moments, and thenbreathed out, relaxing my shoulders at the same time. Once my features werecompletely calm, I got up and walked to my living area.
“Clothes,”I commanded to the AI.
Adozen different skinsuits in the wardrobe cupboard rolled out in front of me. Iput my hand on the traditional red skinsuit I was obliged to wear when meetinga Senior Senthien.
ThenI looked to the right to the last skinsuit hanging at the very end and pulledit out. It was dark gray with atmospheric moisture repellant, five small pocketson the upper left thigh for food tube bars, and spider-net resistance meshworkfor physical impact protection.
Ipaused for a moment.
Why would I choose that?
Idecided to follow my instinct.
Thewardrobe cupboard slid back into the wall. I put on the skinsuit, took thematching E-band from the charging drawer, and put on my boots.
Istepped over to the food processor, slid my fingers over the glass commandboard, and pushed the Process button to begin the food bar synthesis. Whenproduction was completed, I took out the bars and inserted them into myskinsuit pockets. Then I plaited my hair into a thick braid and headed for theexit.
Icontemplated using a few passes for another search in the DC Hall, but it was stillclosed this early—and if my father was right, perhaps it was better notto search further. I entered the Nature Hall and then stopped, looking up.
Thesky was pale blue through the transparent dome shield. The grass was short and palegreen, but here I could sense a higher level of oxygen.
Istepped away from the gate and walked down the path of neatly aligned hexagonalstones, paving a dense network of walkways around the hall.
Onthe left side was a small forest and on the right was a large flat plain,intertwined
