12. Emily
12
EMILY
On my walk to the Cavern of Memory, I replay the previous night’s encounter with Stromm in my mind. His dislike of my new look. His jealousy when I mentioned Xvar. His silence when I asked him if anything had changed.
He acted like we were still together, like he owned me. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to actually claim me as his mate.
I know it’s only been a few days, but I’m tired of the back and forth, the are-we-or-aren’t-we. Being in limbo is exhausting, and I don’t understand why Stromm and I can’t find our way back to each other.
If my Rakuium pendant is even partly responsible for this, I need to know. That’s why I’m going to the Cavern of Memory. To get help from Zavra.
I greet Kam, the Rakui guard, with a forced smile, getting nothing but a scowl in return. I’m not offended; Kam’s a grump to everyone.
“I’m here to talk with Zavra,” I say.
Kam nods. “The Terran Elder, Ah-lan-uh, is already inside. You may enter.”
Inside the cave, I walk down a short corridor. My fingers brush along the smooth stone walls while Rakuium-powered sconces light my way.
The last time I was here, it was with the other Terrans, standing before the ancient stone altar as, one at a time, we placed our hand on the console and Zavra downloaded the Rakui language into our symbionts with a whoosh of energy.
As I enter the sacred Rakui space, I see Professor Grant—no, Alana—at the computer console, reading through various holographic documents.
Since her cropped brown hair is streaked with gray, the Rakuis think of her as our Elder. I still think of her as one of our professors on the starship Educator .
She turns her head when I enter, and smiles. “Hello, Emily.”
“Hi, Alana.”
Using her first name still feels wrong to me, disrespectful. Before she became a professor on A Year of Interstellar Education , she was an officer in Earth Gov’s military. When we discovered this, my friends and I felt betrayed. Things got even more complicated when we found out that Alana is Jade’s birth mother.
Trusting her isn’t easy. But like Jade, Alana is good with tech. That makes her useful since I could really use her help with Zavra.
“Jade told me you’d be coming,” Alana says. “I thought she’d be with you.”
“It’s early and she’s a newlywed. I didn’t want to bother her.” There’s no way I wanted to risk interrupting her and Zeleck again.
“Let me close these documents so you can connect with Zavra.” Alana uses her hands to close the holograms, then motions for me to step up to the altar. “Do you remember how to it works?”
“I just put my left hand in the stone indent?”
She nods. “Yes. That’s the control panel.”
When I do that, the strange rush of energy surges through my body, and my hand affixes to the control panel.
Welcome, Emily from Earth.
I didn’t expect her to remember my name. I glance at Alana. “What do I do now?”
“Ask Zavra a question.”
I nod. “Uh, Zavra, can you help me with a Rakuium problem?”
That depends. Please explain your problem.
“Okay. I wear a piece of Rakuium around my neck for protection. I feel like it’s interfering with my relationship with one of the Rakui males, Stromm, and is trying to keep us apart. Is that possible?”
One moment, please.
The element, Rakuium, is a powerful and sustainable energy source. This means that it produces energy for those who harness it and recharges by drawing energy into itself from its environment.
Not the information I was looking for, so I try asking another way. “The Rakuis believe Rakuium is sentient. Is that true?”
Rakuium exhibits characteristics that suggest a form of awareness. It reacts to external stimuli, demonstrates protective instincts, and has been observed transmitting visions and emotions. However, it does not communicate in a way that fits the traditional definition of sentience as understood by Terrans or Rakuis. It is an energy-based entity with a response system that appears to be both reactive and intentional. More data is needed to determine if it possesses independent thought.
Getting closer, but still not there. “Based on your explanation, do you think my Rakuium pendant could be pushing Stromm away as some sort of protection mechanism?”
One moment, please.
The Rakuium pendant you wear has demonstrated unusual activity since its selection of you as its bearer. Historical data suggests that Rakuium possesses a form of reactive intelligence, particularly in matters of protection and preservation. If Stromm’s presence is perceived as a threat—whether physically or emotionally—it is plausible that the Rakuium is influencing his behavior, or yours, to create distance.
This could be an unintended consequence of its protective function. However, Rakuium’s exact parameters for determining a “threat” remain unknown. Further study is required to resolve whether it acts out of instinct, programmed response, or something more deliberate.
If separation is the result of the Rakuium’s influence, then an environmental shift—such as physical removal of the pendant—may alter Stromm’s reactions. Would you like to initiate a controlled test?
Based on Jade and Zeleck’s reactions when I tried to give them back the pendant, I don’t think a controlled test is happening. “Physical removal of the pendant isn’t possible at this time. Do you have any other ideas?”
Acknowledged. No controlled test will be initiated.
Searching for alternative solutions…
If the Rakuium is, as you suspect, at odds with your connection to Stromm, resolution may be reached via unity rather than separation.
“I don’t understand. Can you explain?”
Certainly. For two to become one, one must become two.
What is divided cannot stand, yet what is shared may endure.
Rakuium is not bound by single purpose nor singular ownership. It responds to its bearer’s needs, but if those needs are in conflict, then the source must be redefined. Change the equation, and the outcome may shift.
This is the only additional information I can provide at this time. Interpretation and application remain with you.
With another whoosh of energy, Zavra disconnects and releases my hand from the control panel.
“Great,” I mutter, flexing the hand that was connected to the computer. “A riddle.”
Alana smiles beside me. “The AI does enjoy a little mystery.”
I glare at the console, but Zavra offers nothing more. “What do you think it means?”
Alana taps her chin, thinking. “ For two to become one must be referring to you and Stromm.”
I nod in agreement. “Does one must become two mean our relationship is completely broken?”
“I don’t think so.” Alana tilts her head, considering, then suddenly snaps her fingers. “I got it. The ‘one’ isn’t your relationship—it’s your piece of Rakuium.”
One must become two .
Looking down at the pendant hanging from my neck, realization hits like a shockwave, and my hand closes around the stone. “Zavra’s saying I should split my Rakuium into two pieces!”
Alana grins. “So, you can share its protection with Stromm—instead of protecting yourself from him.”
I suck in a quick breath, my heart pounding. If the Rakuium is somehow responding to the confused state of our relationship, maybe this will balance things out. Bring us back together.
Excitement bubbles up from my chest. “I need to find Zeleck. He’ll be able to split the Rakuium and make a second pendant for Stromm.”
Just as I’m about to leave, though, the computer console hums back to life, and Zavra’s voice returns.
Data captured. Message incoming.
I freeze, exchanging a tense glance with Alana.
“It’s about time,” she says, her expression hardening. Gone is the kind, helpful professor. In her place is the former Earth Gov officer who is searching for answers after being betrayed. “Zavra’s programmed to continually scan for Earth Gov communications, but we haven’t received anything new for a while.”
She steps forward and presses her hand to the control panel.
Welcome, Alana from Earth. Would you like to see the captured data?
“Yes, I would.”
A hologram pops up and, peering over Alana’s shoulder, I read what it says.
Intercepted transmission follows. Encryption partially decoded. Origin: Earth Gov Command. Recipient: Military Vessel [Designation: Unidentified].
---BEGIN TRANSMISSION---
PRIORITY: HIGH
CLASSIFICATION: RESTRICTED
ORIGIN: EARTH GOV CENTRAL COMMAND
PROGRAM CODENAME: BIOMAN
STATUS UPDATE: BIOLOGICAL EVENT CONFIRMED: EARLY GESTATIONAL DISRUPTION DETECTED
SUBJECT: TERRAN #34
LOCATION: UD-195
ORDERS: PROCEED TO LOCATION IMMEDIATELY; RETRIEVAL OF SUBJECT AUTHORIZED
EXACT COORDINATES PENDING. EXPECT TRANSMISSION ON SECURE CHANNEL. SUBJECT EXTRACTION IS PRIMARY OBJECTIVE. MINIMAL SURFACE EXPOSURE RECOMMENDED
ENGAGEMENT PROTOCOL: NON-LETHAL UNLESS THREAT ASSESSMENT DICTATES ESCALATION
---END TRANSMISSION---
Signal integrity weak. Scanning for further transmissions.
UD-194? My brain stutters, trying to make sense of the transmission. I stare at Alana. “That’s…not this planet.”
“No,” she agrees, her brows furrowing. “We’re on UD-237.”
“What does the transmission mean?”
Alana’s jaw tightens. “There are more test subjects on another undeveloped world. And one of those subjects has gone into early labor.”
“Earth Gov is on the way to retrieve her and her baby,” I whisper.
The roomy cavern suddenly feels claustrophobic, the air too heavy to breathe. We need to tell the others.
“Let’s find Jade and Zeleck,” Alana says. She rushes out of the Cavern of Memory with me close behind.