Omitted Pieces

2

Planet Vortex

Al

I swear, if the food in the cafeteria was nasty before, it has progressively become more disgusting over the past couple of weeks. It doesn’t help that I’ve been on edge trying to figure out how to save both Vienna’s mom and Vienna’s clone, Sierra.

When are the World Government officials going to arrive again? I ask Colsam, yelling over the noise. Now that the guards don’t have to serve Cromwell, there’s a constant poker game going on during meals, which seems to get longer every day. Even the scientists have joined in. It’s been pretty incredible to see the relationship between the guards and scientists heal. Well, for the most part, they’ve healed. There are still a few scientists unable to forgive.

Theopat said they’ll arrive tomorrow. Take a chill pill, Al, he responds while calling a bet.

The guard across from him lays down a freaking royal flush and Colsam throws his cards on the table, curses, and then rises to walk with me.

Everyone’s getting stir-crazy waiting, I tell him.

They’re fine, he says and then pats me on the shoulder as we approach another table.

Read ‘em and weep, boys. Read ‘em and weep, Yesha calls out. She shows her full house, gathers her winnings, and joins us.

Al’s complaining that everyone’s getting stir-crazy even though it’s only going to be a couple more days until the officials are here, Colsam rats me out.

Which one is it? Tomorrow or in a couple of days? If you’re going to lie to me, at least keep the story straight, I counter. We still have no clue where Cromwell went, only that he’s set up another facility. I haven’t been able to get through to Vienna recently but I don’t want to tell her about the new facility. It will only worry her more.

You’re right, Colsam. He needs a chill pill, Yesha says.

I step toward her in mock attack, and she rolls her eyes at me.

It would be nice for the officials to finally show up with the pardon documents. Everyone here is ready to move on with their lives, Colsam agrees…finally. The scientists will be thrilled to receive renewed passes so they can return to their homes clear of all charges too.

You haven’t been able to reach Theopat today either? Yesha asks.

No, I’m afraid we’re going to be forced to initiate alternate measures if it takes more than a few days, I respond.

I have to find out where Cromwell took Vienna’s mom if I ever expect her forgiveness. The pain she suffered from losing her dad was now replaced. All these missing pieces are nothing but aggravating.

Hey, we’ll get it figured out. Yesha nudges me with her elbow.

Yeah, there’s still one more set of data we need to explore, Colsam says.

That reminds me of Cromwell’s desk and how I found his plans for Vienna. Maybe he had the plans for what he was going to do afterward, hidden somewhere in his journal as well.

Where would Cromwell take his family to be safe? I ask.

Well, Al, he’s running from the law now too, Colsam says.

That’s it! Yesha says.

Colsam and Yesha nod their heads at each other.

What’s it? I ask.

He’s gone off grid, Colsam says. Even though they’ve been able to apply the Counter Friction strings to all planets, it’s too much for them to govern. It will take decades to regulate them all. They have to be on a planet the World Government doesn’t have in their grip yet.

We’ve entered my old lab and Colsam rolls up a screen and roams space coordinates. Yesha points over his shoulder. They remind me of Viscerous and Albina, except Albina doesn’t say things like miffed, wobbles, or keen. I miss them. We’ve been through so much. Viscerous’ vein transplantation, Albina’s pigment extraction, and my limb removal; they’ve been like parents to me for so long. I join Yesha and Colsam in the search.

What about there? Yesha points at the map on the holograph screen.

When I get some time alone in the halls, I remove one of the metal vent covers, crawl in, and replace it. Now I’m in the small, plastic tunnels surrounded by watermelon smell again. This is the fastest route to Cromwell’s quarters, and I’ve kind of missed it. I remember the first time Vienna and I crawled into each other. I knew immediately that she wouldn’t stand for what was happening here, but I had no idea to what extent she’d go. I miss her. We need to find her mom. That’s why I’m back in the tunnels.

My first stop reinforces why we went through all of this, why it had to come down to revolt, and why Cromwell’s reign had to end.

Stem cell therapy has allowed regrowth, I hear Dr. Bargory House say. I was pretty amazed when he stuck around. I had him completely pegged as Team Cromwell, but he was so sickened by what was going on here that he’s remained to mend anyone that he can.

Do you think my arm will be exactly like it was before, Doc?

Not only has he helped many, but he also showed me where the emergency shuttles were housed on Planet Vortex. He keeps trying to talk me into stem-cell therapy. Why can’t people just get that I like my new bionic-limb self exactly as it is?

Hey, Cromwell said not to tap into that unless it was an extreme emergency, I hear another voice say from a different room.

Duh, this is an emergency. You saw the food in there.

Moving farther through the tunnel to the next vent, I’m surprised by what I hear.

Fine but be careful and don’t tell anyone about our stash.

Have you gotten through to him yet today? Any new directives?

So far I’ve been able to keep the government officials away, but I won’t be able to do that forever.

He’s going to be pissed if they discover where he’s hiding.

He’ll be more pissed if we lose all control here.

I know! Can you believe Bargory turned? Traitor!

What the hell? I thought all the guards had made peace. Don’t they want freedom? Don’t they want pardons from those false charges? I’m glad I’m hidden in the tunnels and able to hear this.

Yeah, but how’s Cromwell going to hold up his end of the bargain if the government’s after him?

It’s the same guards that I saw from the tunnels chilling with Dr. Cromwell and mugs of low-gravity beer. I need to warn Colsam and Yesha, so I crawl to the hallway access.

The mirror through the vent cover doesn’t show anyone in the hallway, so I exit the tunnel and put the cover back. I keep thinking about the guards as I walk.

We’re going to have to use some of Cromwell’s tactics and I know Colsam will be angry. We can’t allow them to help Cromwell any further. Luckily, all of the guards are now using the incubators, as Vienna used to call them, because their old quarters were in such a dark and cold place (which one would think would be coveted on this planet…I’ve never been able to locate it). Even Colsam won’t tell me where it is. We can send sleeping gas through the ventilation system. It will allow us to finish our mission without being reported to Cromwell, but it’s crossing a line we haven’t crossed before.

I give Yesha the signal as we pass in the hall. Now’s the perfect time. Everyone’s busy with outdoor exercises and no one will notice all three of us missing at once. We couldn’t meet at any of my and Colsam’s previous spots because we need to be free to speak. Instead, we’ve decided to make my old lab the new meeting spot. Colsam nonchalantly nods when I give him the signal. He’s been pretending to fix the drink refrigerator in the cafeteria so that he can avoid gambling and hide the fact that he’s been running low on things to bet.

In my lab, I’m reminded of so much. The bucket of water pouring over Vienna and I. Viscerous and Albina laughing on the sidelines as they’d already been tagged by a glove. Working together to help non-bios. This thought reminds me of Vienna’s clone, Sierra, and Vienna’s mom, Dr. Perierat. Were they given donor cells? How will we continue to administer them in order to avoid atrophy and seizure? Shit, they’re in more trouble than I thought. I need to get to them now.

Colsam enters first, with Yesha shortly behind. He stands in front of the wall and puts his right fist over the left side of his chest. Before, when Cromwell was here, Colsam didn’t have as much freedom. He wasn’t able to fully express his anger and sadness at the lost and abused. Yesha walks up to the wall and runs a finger along one of the tallies, the one that stands for the loss of her brother. I remember the shock Vienna felt when she realized each tally stood for someone harmed or killed. I walk up to Colsam and put an arm around his shoulders.

All these tallies. They’re another reason why we have to do it.

I still don’t like it, Colsam complains.

I know, but we can’t risk them telling Cromwell, I answer.

Just cover for us while we move the shuttles, okay, Yesha says as she turns away from the wall with a tear in her eye. We don’t have to knock the gomers out until we’re actually leaving.

By the way, how are we getting back after we’ve moved the shuttles to a new location? I ask.

Um, about that, Yesha says. I can see the sadness slowly going away.

What about that?

Colsam slaps me on the back. He has the beginning of a grin on his face.

We’re going to ride vultures to get back. Yesha smiles.

No-oh! Why can’t we take camels?

Tick-Tock. You guys have to get back in time to help me search for the gas when the guards have gone to bed.

What about a hover bike?

Too loud, Yesha says. If the rails extended that far we could travel silently but they don’t.

Why can’t Colsam go instead of me? He loves those birds as much as Vienna does.

I need to stay here and keep the troops calm.

Thanks. Thanks a lot for the help.

Since everyone’s exercising on the other side of the facility, we need to exit out of the incubator side. Luckily, we’ve been able to locate the source of the oxygen pills to keep everyone not originally from Vortex safe outdoors. The ladder Vienna built makes it much easier to get to the shuttles, but we need to move them so they’re away from the sensors. We don’t need a code blue calling attention to our departure.

We’ve packed some of the weapons Cromwell had the guards use. I’m not a fan of them but if I’m going to be able to get cells from Vienna’s clone and Mom which are now inhabited by the memory and conscience of Sorna, Cromwell’s wife, and Damien, his kid, it might require weapons.

Yesha seems thrilled at the idea of possessing a weapon anywhere near Cromwell. I’m going to have to keep a close eye on her. I don’t want her going away for life because she murdered him. I know she’s angry. She has every right to be, but I don’t think that’s what her brother would want for her.

As we near the shuttles, I see movement. It’s wings. I freeze.

We’re not there yet. Why are you stopping?

Why are they here? I thought we didn’t need them until we were coming back?

How are they supposed to know where to meet us unless they follow?

She closes the twenty-five feet between us and the vultures, who had been behind the shuttles. One of the vultures lowers its head next to her. She pets it like Vienna had petted the vulture that saved her life. Maybe they’re not all bad. As I take one step forward, a second vulture comes out from behind a shuttle. I take another step forward, trying to breathe slowly so it can’t smell my fear. Yesha snickers. Cog her. I look back at the vulture and it utters a caw in my direction, freezing me in place again.

Shoot, the guards might have heard that. We need to go now.

3

Planet Earth

Vienna

Seeing a whole new world through my clone’s eyes is magnificent. It’s a jungle where she is instead of a desert or an Industrial Earth 2.0. That’s my new name for it, Industrial Earth 2.0. It’s the only way I’m able to keep old Earth and new Earth straight when I’m talking to Viscerous, Albina, and Theopat. But the jungle my clone’s in is magical. The neon leaves reflect light like prisms. I wonder if it’s luciferase binding with luciferin that makes them glow? I’m so glad Vex is with her. Maybe I can try hacking into his system later to see what’s going on, because the phantom visions are becoming less frequent. In fact, they often only appear when I meditate.

We’re growing further apart. Eventually, she’ll be her own person. And we’re going to have a lot of explaining to do. I can’t call and explain or at least all the attempts we’ve made have been unsuccessful. Even hacking Vex wouldn’t allow for back-and-forth communication like a call unless I broke the safety features, and only one person I know could possibly do that, Yesha. But I’m taking Theopat to my school later and we’re going to try to get in touch there.

I bend my legs into the butterfly sitting position, straighten my back, and close my eyes. I breathe in, feeling my lungs expand as far as they can. I breathe out until my chest is compressed, imagining a large, dark circle. I’m interrupted by footsteps approaching.

Vienna, I’m going to go to the Scientific Assembly. How do I lo…I’m sorry. Am I interrupting?

Cog it all.

Meditating here.

I remember when your mom used to do that before I was imprisoned on Vortex.

The pain in his eyes is visible even though he’s trying to hide it. He and Mom should be together at last.

What were you asking me, Dad?

Oh, yeah, how do I look?

You look fine. Nervous about seeing everyone again?

Who is the parent here?

I smile and he smiles in return. It’s been great having Dad around, but I can tell Septimus is struggling to get back into the swing of things here. He was stuck on Planet Vortex for so long under Cromwell’s thumb. I hope he hits it off with his old friends at the Scientific Assembly. I go up to him, straighten his tie, and then pat him on the shoulder. He gives me a hug. The hug I’ve missed for years.

When he leaves, I continue my meditation. Within the large, dark circle, a violet circle forms, and inside that a blue one. I inhale and exhale again before green, red, and yellow circles form. There they freeze and oxygen exchanges without thinking. Finally, the last circle swells like the sun expanding toward the Earth.

Neon leaves blur by in the vision. My clone, Sierra, is on the run. What could she be running from? I hear a soothing mix of jungle insects and water running but it’s interrupted by yelling. Someone’s running with Sierra. The new person’s auburn hair flows behind her. The pair suddenly stop and hide behind foliage. Vines and leaves seem to move, curling and spinning. Then glowing red dots appear from nowhere.

Vienna, are you ready or what?

Cog it all! It’s impossible to get a moment’s peace with four other people in the apartment. What was that?

Give me five minutes, Theopat.

Oh, I can’t wait. We’re still going to stop by the clothing store on the way to your school, right?

For the thousandth time, yes.

Theopat jumps up and down squealing. There’s no way I’m going to be able to meditate anymore. Being a Vortex resident her whole life she already had a huge interest in learning Earth lifestyle, especially fashion. That interest grew exponentially when her brother deboarded the shuttle. He decided to stay at the Vortex facility instead of being free and coming to Earth with her. She’s been devastated ever since, except when the topic of clothes comes up. I get it. It’s her escape. We all need one of those from time to time. I swear she almost jumps through my ceiling when I put on my shoes. I’m still taken a little aback by the numerous voices we hear in the once quiet apartment as we exit.

Wait, step back, I tell her when she reaches for the poli-magno before the solar disks have a chance to lower.

When they do lower, she is awestruck. What is that?

It’s how we charge our vehicles. It reminds me of how little studying I was capable of doing on Vortex given the dire circumstances. How do they charge hovers on Vortex?

Is that what those things were, solar panels? The solar rechargeable cells are imbedded within the hover metal for automatic charging.

We board the poli-magno and I’m instantly reminded of my mom sitting in the seat I now occupy, hands gripping the metal steering wheel. I had to learn to drive when I arrived on Earth. No one else knew how, and it had been too long for my dad. Mom had practiced with me a few times. Honestly, I’d rather fly on a vulture than drive one of these things. During the trip I think about testing Faradays Law. That’s what happens when I know I’ll be back in my old lab soon.

What’s that? Theopat points to buildings.

Our buildings have new, colorful art each month to make up for the lack of vegetation not confined to labs and other protected areas. The current piece is 3-D bubbles that look as if they’re bouncing from one building to the next. Theopat can’t help but stare.

Pulling up to Magasin, she notices the advertisements. With her new identification, they now show the most recent fashion trends. For me, they’re back to Science Olympiad and poli-magno repair ads. I had to convert back to my old identification instead of using the one that would have caused the floating messages to report the latest medical advancements. I needed it for Dad.

The momentum is nonstop as soon as we walk through the door. Theopat’s running up to different racks. She’s obviously done enough searching to warrant a visit to each one. The system moves her style and size to the front of each rack as she approaches. Long sleeves, short sleeves, clothes of every kind. The only similarity I notice is the dark colors. On Vortex, she’d been restricted to only lighter clothes due to the sheer heat of the desert planet. Here on Earth she’s allowed more freedom.

I notice a guy stare at her as he walks by. She doesn’t even pay attention.

You’ve caught someone’s attention. I nudge her in the side and tilt my head in his direction.

All she does is shrug her shoulders. I underestimated her love of clothes.

I kind of fell for someone back home, she says.

Oh! Anyone I know?

Yeah, it’s, well, it’s kind of complicated.

You’re so far away from there now. You can tell me.

Okay, I thought perhaps you had it figured out, given my awkwardness when you arrived at the Stem Cell Harvesting Center…it’s Colsam.

My heart stops, but why, it shouldn’t matter. The fitting rooms are over there. I point while pushing the stack of clothes she’s holding.

She gives me an odd look and goes to try on her clothes. It shouldn’t bother me that she likes Colsam. I love Al. And yet, my blood is boiling.

I