Evolution (20 page)

“And yet what you advocate is in direct opposition to what we teach. You would corrupt people’s morals, threaten the sanctity of marriage, erode the family structure, and that’s just from your village. These Tobes of yours make people believe their lives are all about personal fulfillment. Where’s the sacrifice, the submission to a higher authority, the acceptance of guilt? You condemn people while saying you’re setting them free.”

Sam couldn’t help but see the accusations as describing the church more than the Tobes or Rendition. It wasn’t Sam who was condemning anyone. And freedom was not something to be given—people had to discover that within themselves. “All I’m doing is giving them the tools. That’s all technology has ever been: a tool. As for how I choose to live my life, isn’t that something each person should decide for themselves?”

“You don’t let a child decide what’s safe and what isn’t,” Father Damien said. “Even at our most evolved, we will always be less than God. The church is that warning sign, telling people what’s dangerous to their souls. And you are that danger.”

“All I want is to live and let live. I’m not standing out on the street, telling people to follow me. If they find something attractive in what we’re trying to do, that’s their decision. I can’t change that. And, despite my daughter’s outburst, we’re not looking to destroy your church. The Tobes have said mankind grows best when there are differing perspectives.” Sam doubted he was making much headway. The church had spent centuries quashing the opposition.

“People fear you. Even more now that Sara has shown what she can do. We’ll be here to welcome those frightened children home with open arms. But how that fear manifests isn’t our concern.” The church leader didn’t have to say what part they’d play in those manifestations. Sam suspected their rural craft village was already ramping up pitchfork production.

* * *

S
am wondered
what he’d encounter leaving the church. Sara was safe. Jess was safe. Anything else didn’t matter. Joshua would have warned him if his family was again in danger. Not that Sam could do much compared to Sara and the Tobes. Apparently, they could move mountains without his help.

A young girl ran up to him as he started making his way over the rubble that used to be a rock wall. She pressed a bouquet of wild flowers into his hand. “Give these to Sara. She was nice to me. Tell her I’m still her friend.” But before Sam could catch the girl’s name, she ran off.

He admired the flowers as he walked the tree-lined street toward the shuttle. Beauty— floral or human—grew even in the darkest of places.

There were people milling about the shuttle, but
Lilliput
kept her hatch closed. Sara and Jess would be waiting for him. No need for them to be subjected to the questioning crowd. He snuck in and collapsed on the seat. “I miss Emily, the village, just a quieter life. Joshua, do you think Rendition could spare us for a few weeks? The whole planet won’t self-destruct from our absence, will it?”

“We’ve been known to survive your absences.” The tiredness in Joshua’s voice could easily be mistaken for sarcasm.

Lilliput
lifted off from the town Sam hoped never to see again. Buildings began to fall away as the view screens filled with the gray clouds above.

Sam needed his family together again. It was selfish. As unsafe as Earth had proven for Sara, the idea of being separated from either of his daughters was no longer acceptable
. It’s either the village or Rendition, but I’ll never again divide the family while the girls still need me.

“Emily will be safe. I know you’ve kept her up there for fear of what would become of her on Earth,” Joshua said. “The church wouldn’t dare try anything. They think they’ve already created one monster and only proven your power in the process.”

Emily had chosen a life with the village. Not a bad decision, in hindsight, and not just because of what Sara had endured. She was surrounded by people she loved, and who loved her, and given the freedom to learn anything at her own pace—the choice he’d have made at that age.
A choice I probably should have made as an adult.
“We haven’t done anything. It was her desire to learn with the village.”

Sara reached out a hand to his. Her fingers were still long and delicate. “I miss her too. Now more than ever.”

The twins had never spent so much time apart. But ultimately, being together would require Emily to want a life on Earth. Much as Sam needed to have his family whole, Emily would have to want it too.

The shuttle penetrated the storm clouds with ease. Sam’s earthly cares gave way to thoughts of life aboard the ship orbiting the planet. Standing out like the grand flagship of the fleet,
Leviathan
dominated the shuttle’s view screens. The image of the magnificent vessel never ceased to amaze him. He’d been too long on Earth. Looking back down at the storms that forever ravaged the planet, he couldn’t even make out the structures that dominated his life.
Such a quick change of perspective. Just one little hop into space, and those problems look like the battles of microbes.

Lilliput
expertly maneuvered into
Leviathan
’s landing bay.

Joshua turned in his seat. “I need to get back to Rendition. If you’re going to take some time off, I’d better keep on my game.”

With a smile of acceptance from Sam, Joshua disappeared for his instantaneous return to work.

Freed from the barrage of Tobe voices, Lev surrounded Sam with her familiar, playful presence. “Knock-knock.”

“I thought it was supposed to be the visitor that knocked.” Sam had learned to enjoy her little attempts at humor. But protesting the archaic jokes was also part of the routine.

An exasperated sigh swept the landing bay. “For a god, you are the slowest human ever. Knock. Knock.”

“Who’s there?” Sam could barely get the words out without laughing.

“Nev.”

“Nev who?”

“Never knew Sara had it in her.”

You and me both.

I heard that, Dad.

Shit, sorry.
It was one thing having a technological being hear everything he said and quite another having his own daughter exhibit the same skill. Choosing his words carefully was hard enough. How could he even begin to monitor his thoughts?

As they walked along the brightly lit passageway to the agro pod, Sara slipped her hand into Sam’s. “How do you keep all the voices quiet? I’m losing track of which ideas are mine and which are the Tobes’. And without knowing where the thoughts are coming from, I’m doubting my conclusions. I’m not even sure what’s right and wrong anymore.”

Sam had never let go of his control with the Tobes. Not as Sara had. To not only let them have access to his mind but draw them physically into his being, lean on their energy, have them become a part of him—that was a level of connection he could only imagine. “Find places you can be alone and quiet, like up here. Talk to people and be present in the conversations, not just looking up answers in that brain that connects to everything. The Tobes aren’t trying to control you. But if you ask for their help, or pull them into you, their presence can be overwhelming. You need to establish boundaries, and that has to be between you and them.”

Sara nodded slowly. “Is that why you keep them out—the fear that you could become all powerful?”

“No, it wasn’t that. I’ve never had a lust for power. So much of my life, I felt separated from people. Like an island in the ocean. I knew they were out there, but I had no idea how to connect. The village made those connections for me. I don’t agree with Father Damien. People need to make their own decisions, but those personal one-on-one connections shouldn’t be artificially enhanced. The village and his church have that in common.”

“Were you ever tempted?” Sara’s question left him wondering if she was seeking validation.

The Moons of Jupiter loomed large in his imagination. Retribution for the destruction of Chariklo was a debt still unsettled. “I fear that’s still in my future.”

T
he worries
of Earth fell away with its gravity as Sara floated free in the agro pod. The village would want to see her, find out what happened, fawn over her. They could wait. She had to find the person who mattered most—Emily. And Sara knew where she’d be hiding. Emily never did like crowds, and this wasn’t the type of conversation to be had in public anyway.

As her parents headed toward the main meeting room of the village, Sara discreetly snuck away. She’d be missed, but no one would go searching for her. She was safe, and they’d all know that. And the twins were known for their secret bond.

Sara twisted in circles as she floated from vine to vine. It wasn’t flying—not the same—but it sure beat walking. As Mira’s garden came into view, she pulled hard at a stray vine left strategically out of place. The random assortment of twigs and leaves gradually formed a small meeting room as she descended through the vegetation. Their secret hiding place was perfectly positioned to spy on Mira’s activities.

Emily grabbed Sara tight around the shoulders. Emily’s arms were thin, but she had a viselike grip when she got emotional. “I’m never letting go.”

Of course she couldn’t hold on forever, but Sara would never argue her way out of Emily’s embrace. “It’s okay, Emi. I’m okay.” But Emily seemed intent on keeping her word and not letting go.

“Tell me what happened.” The muffled words, nearly a sob, reminded Sara of Emily’s youth. Though the same age, they’d lived very different lives over the last few months.

Sara recounted her story—sanitized to keep Emily from breaking down entirely—but stopped when she reached the rescue. “This next part is a little scary. Not in a bad way, but it’s something that will separate us. You may want to have the Tobes create the same connection for you, but I don’t think you should.”

As Sara described the Fly modification, Emily released her from the embrace. “That sounds wonderful. You could fly all over New York, looking down on all those people, just like some old-time children’s story.”

“It comes at a price. A big one.” Sara explained, as near as she could remember, what had happened at the wall. “I got so angry. I didn’t mean to knock down the wall. But the more I screamed, the more power flowed through me. I got consumed by it. Joshua tried to stay out of me. He was the closest, so I drew him in first. He wanted me to understand the dangers. But I couldn’t stop. And now the Tobes can read my every thought. Even if I don’t really want something, if I’m being funny, or mouthing off, or whatever, they’ll try to make it happen. You used to say you felt sorry for Dad. That he had to fight with his own thoughts. You were right. A couple of magic tricks aren’t worth having them in your head for the rest of your life.”

Sara wasn’t convinced of her own argument. The negative aspects were still playing out in her brain. But explaining the real danger—how much she craved the power—wasn’t likely to dissuade Emily. For the moment, she needed Emily to be as free of the Tobes as possible. That was what Sam was trying to say: Sara needed someone on the outside whom she could talk to. “I need you, Emi. More than I ever have in my life. I know you prefer it up here, and really, I should just move here too. But Dad still has too much to do on Earth. And now that I have a similar connection, I think I need to learn how to help him.”

Emily pulled the vines of the room’s wall tight to her shoulders. “I have to move down there?”

“You don’t have to do anything. But I need you. And I have to go down there. It wouldn’t be permanently. You can still come and go as you please. Just until I figure out how to control my thoughts. But if you say
no,
I’ll understand.” Sara tried not to make it too much of an emotional demand.

Emily’s hands shook as she let go of the protective vines. “I wouldn’t do it for anyone but you.”

Sara pulled her sister back into her arms. “I know, and you’re the last person I’d want to ask. But also the only one who could help me.”

Emily silently nodded her agreement.

* * *

T
he village was
in full uproar as Sara and Emily made their way to the meeting room. Mira—the current facilitator—was doing her best to keep the peace, but too many voices were yelling at the same time. The tumult died down as people turned to Sara. The wayward child had returned home. She thought she should say something. Tell them she was all right. But what did they want to hear?

Sam pushed off of the woven wall. “While I can’t say you’re all safe up here, things are better than Earth. I can’t see how anyone would carry out an attack against
Leviathan
. But then, I never predicted Sara’s abduction either. We can limit the people who come up to visit. It’s not like we have to allow guests. That section of Earth’s population that disagrees with our lifestyle has aimed its animosity at my family and me. This village is just some strange group in space as far as they’re concerned.”

Doc had his arm wrapped around Jess’s waist. “It’s not just our safety. You’re a part of this community. A danger to you is a danger to all of us.”

Jess snuggled up to her father. “We appreciate that. But we have to go back to Earth. There’s still too much to do. Just knowing you’re up here gives us strength.”

“Then leave your daughters. Don’t subject them to further danger.” The words could have come from anyone. There was a general murmur of agreement that swept the room.

Sara let go of her sister to take her father’s place in the center of the meeting room. “I have to go back. After what happened, there’ll be rumors about me if I don’t. I can’t let some stupid story about my superhuman ability take hold.”

“But the stories are true,” Doc said. “How are you going to stop a legend if the proof is in front of everyone’s eyes?”

“Okay, yes, I did do some strange things. That’s true. But I’m also just me, a teenage girl. If the people of Earth see that, maybe they won’t be so afraid.” Sara put all the hope she could muster into her words. If only her desire could make them true.

“We’ve always said people were free to do as they pleased when it came to staying or leaving,” Jess said. “This isn’t us separating from the village. You’re a part of us, and us of you. That’ll never change. But to maintain your safety, we’ve still got a lot to do down there. And unfortunately, those obligations now encompass Sara as well. As you all well know, you don’t get one twin without the other.”

“We’re going to stay up here for two weeks,” Sam said. “We all need the break. It’ll also give us a chance to talk things over with Emily. She’s a part of our family, and she’s been left out of too much lately. You’re our solar array, that thing that rejuvenates us, makes us powerful so we can do what we must.”

Sara wondered if being an adult had to include attending meetings. Being the focal point of this one only made her wish she’d stayed hidden with Emily in their secret fort.

* * *

E
mily had developed
an obsession with Mira’s teachings. Every free moment, she tried dragging Sara back to their hideout, or worse, into one of the sessions. Not that Sara hadn’t shared that interest at one time. But with her new connection to the Tobes, her mind had been filled with so many teachings, and so many temptations, that her imagination was no longer occupied with naked bodies. She went along to humor her sister. But even turning her mind to sex only resulted in downloads of books far more risqué than Mira would teach to the girls.

Out in space, the voices in Sara’s head weren’t what they were on Earth. Lev had a calming effect. The connection was still very real, just toned down. Books still presented themselves like suitors with every passing thought, but they knew when to back off.

When Sara thought no one was looking, she drifted out to the pod wall. At first it had been a mistake—simply a matter of not paying attention to where she was going—but that was a lie she couldn’t maintain. Looking down at the huge planet, she could imagine all the activities going on: people making art, learning new things, developing ideas, even forming false opinions. And she was missing out on all of it.

Not that she didn’t love the village. These people were home and always would be, just as her mother said. But the ideas the village wanted to pursue were so limited. She could do so much more with the Tobes. She’d teach them to be more by combining what she’d learned from the village with her intense connection and help—change—the world. Wasn’t that more worthy of her time?

She knew Emily had grown tired of hearing her go on and on about what was possible. Emily thought those things weren’t achievable for her, only for her blessed sister, Sara. It wasn’t that Emily was jealous—she could have the same connection if she really wanted it, no matter Sara’s warnings. Emily was a child of the village. She’d just begun learning of the power sex held for her. Being a superhero, a term Emily insisted on teasing her with, only worked on Earth.

Village life wasn’t all bad. Up here she was just Sara, Jess’s daughter. The old concepts that the child belonged to the mother, and that the whole village would share the duties normally assigned to the biological father, still held true. Being freed from Sam’s lineage also freed her from the perceived blessing, and curse, that came with him. She wasn’t anything special here—no daughter of a god, no wielder of special powers, just Sara.

She put her hand to the transparent wall separating her from the vastness of space. It was good—and important—to have this break. She had to keep that clear in her head. And though Emily wouldn’t be able to keep pace with Sara’s intellect, she was worth listening to. For all of Sara’s intelligence and connection to information, Emily always surpassed her in human interactions. She was Sara’s anchor in humanity.

Sam drifted up beside Sara, breaking her contemplation. “I thought I might find you out here. My place was the back of the agro pod, against that huge metal disk. I’ll leave you be if you’d prefer.”

Sara turned to lean her side against the curved wall. “No, I do have a question. Back on Earth, in your office, Emily and I once found this book in a hiding place on the shelves. I’ve been scouring my connection, but it’s like the Tobes are hiding it from me. Do you know the one I’m talking about?”

Sam closed his eyes and nodded. “They made it for me on our first visit to Earth. It’s the summation of all Earth’s ideas about god, religion, and our connections to each other. They saw fit to weave my story in with the others. I think they meant it as an honor to me. We were still exploring our relationship—who I was to them, what I could do—so I see it as something similar to the coloring books you and your sister used to make for me when you were little. I keep it hidden, not because I don’t want you to read it, but because the last thing I want is another religious document—for people or Tobes.”

It had been right after the family had moved to Earth. Nothing had been off-limits on Chariklo. Sara and Emily didn’t see why anything should be different on Earth. But sometimes it was easier to apologize later than ask permission first. Plus, they liked having their secret adventures. They’d started planning their clandestine reconnaissance the first night in the mammoth building. No one had noticed them sneaking out of the family’s penthouse to investigate their dad’s office, though in hindsight, the Tobes must have known what they were up to. She and her sister had spent hours playing on the furniture and pulling things off the shelves. The book’s hiding place practically opened on its own as Sara ran her fingers along the underside of a shelf.

She remembered first seeing the stone cover, immaculately polished, the pages that only looked like paper, the strange way the words moved around when she and Emily asked the book questions. It wasn’t just a regular old book as her dad thought. What they’d discovered had frightened both of them. Mysterious beings weren’t supposed to be called forth from a book just by saying some words. Some things she’d still have to hide from her father.