Chapter 10 Conversations #2
“If I could give what I had to anyone it would be to you and Mom,” Jace admitted. “I don’t want…”
He stopped before he ended that sentence. He didn’t want to be alone. He didn’t want to live past everyone he knew. Suddenly, the very thought of eternity didn’t seem so much like a blessing in that moment.
“You know I asked Khoth if he believed in an afterlife right when we were on the Hive, practically squirming on our bellies,” Jace said and this sounded like a non sequitur, but it wasn’t.
“Do the Thaf’ell believe in an afterlife?” his father asked, allowing the seeming change of subject.
“They believe we all go back to basically star dust, you know? That’s an incredibly logical response,” Jace said, then bit his lower lip. “But that means that we–you and I and everybody–stops being ourselves.”
“We go on, but not as us? Yes, I could see how that could be true,” his father answered.
“Do you believe that? We’ve never talked about this stuff, because… well, we were all pretty sure I was going to die before you guys,” Jace admitted.
He saw his father’s expression out of the corner of his eye.
It was pained. They had gotten life insurance, made good investments, done everything to make sure that he was taken care of with the hopes that he would survive them.
But Jace could see now from a distance that he hadn’t had before--and the clarity of it not being something that was going to happen--that he had been getting worse.
So the Khul invasion was actually a plus for me, he thought sadly. But not for Mrs. Lo. Not for so many others. Maybe I shouldn’t be worried about living forever. Going up against the Khul doesn’t exactly lend itself to a long lifespan.
“I honestly don’t know. I want to believe there’s something, but I sometimes think that’s just because I don’t want to stop living,” his father answered. “But the rules of life are that someday you have to stop playing.”
“Unless what was done to me can be duplicated,” Jace added.
“I don’t know if we want too many immortal humans, Jace,” his father stated dryly.
“Yeah, you might be right about that. But enough gloomy things,” Jace said, mentally putting aside the death and afterlife questions. “Where do you want to crash tonight?”
His father lifted an eyebrow in silent questioning.
“Do you want to sleep in your bed on Earth or on the Osiris?” Jace clarified.
Both of his father’s eyebrows lifted. “Oh, you tempt me here! In my boring old bed or a spaceship? Let me think…”
“Dad!” Jace laughed.
“The Osiris! But I need to talk to Diane first. But I’m sure she’ll agree. Your mother is already itching to explore every inch of the ship. So much was closed to us until now,” his father explained. “But she’s at the base and she might need me there.”
“Let’s find out,” Jace said.
“Ah, no cell phone coverage out here, Jace.” His father waggled his useless iPhone at him.
“It’s called AIs, Dad. Gehenna is with Mom so I can easily find out what’s going on,” Jace said.
It was amazing how much easier accessing the AIs was now, how natural, but ever since he’d gotten his hands on the Storm Spike his comfort with his abilities had increased by leaps and bounds.
The ship anchored him somehow. His hands danced over the holographic displays while he contacted Gehenna at the same time.
Jace! How are you doing? Gehenna cried, but didn’t wait for him to answer.
She reminded him of a kid on a sugar rush as she babbled happily, Having fun with your dad?
Your mom and I are becoming friends! Well, sort of.
But she did speak to me! And I used her cell phone's interface to talk to her! It was glorious and–
Gehenna? Jace’s lips twitched at Gehenna’s evident crush on his mother.
She’s just so cool! Your Mom is the best! And I really want–
Gehenna? Jace laughed as he tried to get a word in edgewise. Once he knew whether his mother wanted to sleep on the ship that night, Gehenna could gush all she wanted to him about the deep and abiding friendship that she and his mom were beginning.
Oh… you need something? He could imagine Gehenna twisting two of her tentacles together and swaying like a naughty girl.
Just one thing and you can tell me everything you want to. I promise. But it is about my mother, Jace told her. And I’m so glad that you are having fun. I just need your attention for a moment.
If you need me I’ll be with you immediately!
I can get on a ship or simply transfer myself to the Storm Spike!
That would make more sense of course, but, oh, dear, I’m a little beside myself here, Gehenna cried, suddenly alert that something was wrong.
But I was monitoring you and everything seemed find–better than that–so I–
It’s fine, Gehenna. Everything is perfect.
No worries. I just need to know Mom’s opinion on something, Jace reassured her, suppressing a sigh about her spying, but really it was something he knew he had to get used to.
Besides, if something went wrong, he wanted both of his AIs immediately on the job.
Dad and I are on our way back to Earth. We want to know if Mom needs Dad for anything and if she wants a lift up to the Osiris.
Dad would like to sleep on the ship tonight if she’s game for it.
Let me find out! One moment! Gehenna was now determined to be uber helpful.
There was a momentary silence and then she was back, She is excited to sleep on the Osiris, too.
Based on your current position and the time it will take you to reach us, we shall be ready to be picked up as soon as you arrive.
Great, Gehenna, Jace smiled. His gaze went to the video that the Osiris had recorded for him of Khoth and his mother. With dismay, he saw that a second video was now there. Have you, ah, heard anything from Khoth? The Thaf’ell haven’t brought him back to Earth, right?
The truth was, he could have simply checked his own suit’s comms to know where Khoth was. He could have contacted the Thaf’ell Commander himself and asked when he was going to arrive at the Osiris. But he hadn’t, because many reasons!
He didn’t want to bother Khoth. It would seem a little needy if he called like that.
He could be interrupting a crucial conversation.
His call could cause Khoth’s mom to wonder what was wrong with him.
So many bad things could happen if he actually directly contacted Khoth, including one that he didn’t really want to admit, which was that Khoth could want to stay with his people and not return.
And Jace would know as soon as he heard those cool accents if that was the case and he would be crushed.
Yes, crushed, if Khoth didn’t want to be on his team.
Oh no, he’s not back yet, Gehenna said sadly, but I could access the Ashaton’s systems and find out for you! Let me–
No, no, I don’t want to do that, Jace quickly interrupted. I just wanted to know if he needed a lift though I guess he could have gone directly to the Osiris.
He could have, but he did not. My sensors show that he is in his mother’s quarters on the Ashaton, Gehenna answered.
Right. He heard the worry in his own voice, even though he wasn’t sure what he was worried about.
It’s okay, Jace. He’s coming back, Gehenna intuited what was wrong. You mustn’t worry.
No, I’m not worried, he told her.
She was silent.
I’m not really worried, he qualified. I mean we just met today. It’s ridiculous that I would expect him to just be with me when his mom is here. It’s just that he made a lot of decisions today that helped us but not the Alliance. He might be in big trouble.
Maybe what he chose did help the Alliance, Jace, Gehenna contradicted.
How so? I’m the Pilot. You’re bound with me and we’re bound to the Osiris so… He let the sentence hang.
If the Alliance’s goal is to stop the Khul then the decisions Khoth made today are the absolute right ones, Gehenna stated adamantly. Remember, I tried to make a Pilot. It didn’t work. The Osiris wanted you.
But if I hadn’t made it? If I’d died before the transformation could have been completed surely the Osiris would have chosen someone else, he pointed out.
Jace, you’re the only Pilot, Gehenna said flatly.
But there have to have been other people that could have been the Pilot! He protested. What if my parents had never come to Sunrise? What if my mom hadn’t gotten pregnant with me? What if I’d had an accident before I was transformed?
You’re thinking that there could have been someone better than you, Gehenna understood. But, Jace, what if you’re the best there ever could be? Have you ever thought of that? Because I think so.
You’re biased, he said but he was grinning.
Everyone is. But that doesn’t mean I’m wrong, she said.
Let’s hope High Councillor Nova Voor thinks like you do, he pointed out dryly.
Both of them were silent.
I’m sure Khoth will be on the Osiris soon, Gehenna said, not sounding very confident in that. And if he’s not…
If he’s not? Jace prompted.
We can go break him out! A large smiley face appeared.
Jace chuckled. Gehenna, you’re so bad.
But we'd do it, wouldn’t we? Gehenna asked.
Yeah, we would, Jace admitted.
But there was a feeling in the back of his mind that they wouldn’t have to do all that much to save Khoth. Not with two AIs on his side. But he put that to the side. Nova Voor had promised to send Khoth back to him and he wanted to believe in her word. At least until she broke it with him.
Okay, so see you soon, Gehenna, Jace said.
But he still gripped the controls a little harder then forced himself to relax. Everything was going to be okay.
“Everything all right, Jace?” His father’s right hand landed on his left shoulder.
“I’m good. Mom wants to come to the ship so we should pick her and Gehenna up. Maybe we should shoot by the house, too, and pick up some clothes. I don’t know if you guys ah. well, wear pajamas?” Jace said helplessly.