Author's note: And so here it is (FINALLY!) the last chapter of "Gaia's Gift". Enjoy and review!
Disclaimer: Blah-blah de blah…the usual (yeah, as if you didn't know!)
Chapter Six: World's Beginning, Pt. 2
Smartly dressed, Gray had gone on a little shopping spree and had managed to find attire in understated colors that complemented him well; black pants and dress shoes and a nicely tailored midnight blue blazer with square gunmetal clasps and pearl cufflinks over a navy blue shirt.
Aki, on the other hand, had decided to take one step over the line and had chosen an outfit that was considered, to say the least, a bit risqué. It had certainly raised eyebrows wherever she went tonight, but what the hell…having saved the planet she figured she more than deserved it. The day after Christmas she had received her New Year's Eve invitation, and it didn't take her too long to look up the best clothing stylist in Houston. Two days later, she walked into her apartment burdened with bags. Contained within said bags were articles of leather.
Black leather.
Lots of it.
Exclaiming her delight, she had eagerly tried it all on and stood before the holographic imager that displayed her from head to toe in 3D, from all sides, and she liked what she saw. High-heeled boots boosted her height and her body-hugging pants were slung perilously low on her hips. A single zipper appeared to be the only thing boldly holding her short jacket together and its lower edge was nowhere near her waistline. As a result it displayed a daring amount of her bare midriff. She vividly remembered the moment when she had arrived at Gray's place.
"You're drooling," she teased, almost laughing as his eyes glazed over. It had taken him a moment to recover some semblance of normality; then he crooked a finger at her. She entered his apartment and stepped right up to him, smelling deliciously of leather and perfume.
"And you're not playing fair." His voice held a note of false sternness.
"So, just how do intend to level the field, my captain?" she replied demurely.
"If you're lucky, you may just find that out later." He pulled her closer yet.
"We should get going, Gray," Aki whispered. "If we don't now, well…you know." Her expressive eyes glowed.
"Indeed." He sighed and reluctantly released her, gathering up his coat, but he did not fail to miss her ill-concealed pout. All of this had happened a mere half-hour ago, and now here in the lounge Gray was aware of heads turning. He tried to appear cool, calm and collected, but Aki clearly didn't care; she almost appeared to thrive on the attention. The same woman who had greeted Fleming and the others materialized, at least diverting some attention, and led them to the rest of the Deep Eyes. After they ran the gauntlet of curious onlookers they finally got to the table.
Whittaker scooted over to make some room. "Glad you could make it, Captain! Neil was starting to stress something fierce."
"Was not!"
Ryan sighed. "Well, anyway…another round, anyone?" He caught the attention of a passing attendant, who took down everyone's orders and departed.
Jane gave Neil a nudge. "You're staring," she hissed, although she herself cast a stealthy glance at Aki. Fleming came out of his stupor in time not to make himself look too foolish.
"What's the matter, Jane? A little jealous, are we?" He found the chance to nettle her well nigh irresistible. She said nothing but chose to reply non-verbally, planting a boot heel firmly on his instep; his wince did not go unnoticed by Ryan, who attempted to downplay the situation.
"Where is Dr. Sid? I'm surprised that he isn't here."
Aki leaned forward, arms crossed on the tabletop. "Not yet…he wanted to look up some old cohorts first."
"Now that the war is over, what's next?" Lita asked, her large eyes meeting those of the scientist's. "Ryan says that New York is to be restored. Any truth to that?"
"Yes!" Aki's enthusiasm was obvious. "Dr. Sid has only gotten a few details from the council, but so far it looks like the entire city will be rebuilt on ground level."
Neil freed his foot and wriggled his toes, checking that nothing was broken. "That's a tall order, Doc."
"And that's just to start. Cities worldwide are organizing their own teams, sending them out to look for surviving plant and animal life. It'll take time, even with cloning technology, but if we're going to make this planet fit for living again..."
"'We'?" A tiny crease appeared between Proudfoot's eyebrows.
"Come one, it's not like we're eligible for retirement yet, Jane." Neil's eyes smiled merrily over the rim of his glass. Before Proudfoot could even dig up a snappy comeback, Gray broke in smoothly.
"That's right. Aki and Sid are to head the Ecosystem Recovery Division. They'll correspond with others around the world, but will be directly responsible for re-establishing wildlife here on the North American continent. The Deep Eyes will remain on active duty and will be based in Houston for the present time. Our job–" here he interrupted himself as their order arrived–"is to reconnoiter the wastelands for life. Remember the hawk we saw out in Tucson?"
"Oh, yeah! Then I guess that means no more running around looking for spirit-waves, eh, captain?"
Edwards took a sip of his drink, then sat back and grinned. "Afraid not, sergeant. Not unless you want to do more slime-diving!"
Before he could say more, a series of tones sounded over the hubbub, and all attention turned to the main view screen. There was a burst of static that cleared to show a live transmission from within the City Council Chambers, and the camera was centered upon a podium that was awash in lights. Behind it stood Councilor Kehyeyan, and stationed beside him were some of the New York Council, the faces of Drake and Hee among them. Hovering about on the fringes several media reporters were just visible, trying to keep out of camera range but their various recording devices drifted into the picture from time to time. In the lower right-hand corner, the glowing numerals of a clock were ticking away the seconds. The time presently read 11:18 PM.
"People of Houston, good evening," Kehyeyan began. "Tonight marks a very special juncture in our city's history. As you know, thanks to the valiant efforts of both the military and the science division, the phantoms have been eliminated. And while our sister metropolis of New York has suffered under a terrible tragedy, we will not allow that to sway us from the task of rebuilding that city in all of its glory.
"Besides Paris, Moscow, Sao Paulo and Melbourne, we are one of the last cities, and the only one in the western hemisphere, with an active barrier. In just under forty-five minutes, however, that will change." He turned aside slightly. An aide handed him a small flat plastic case, no larger than his palm, and opening it he withdrew a thin card, slightly smaller than the common key-cards used for ingress into restricted areas. Upon the surface of this one, though, a smaller square could just be seen, emblazoned with a holographic interface.
"The chip on this card is encrypted with a code. This code grants access to the cold-fusion generators in Houston's main barrier control station. At 12:00AM, January 1, 2066, these generators will be taken off-line."
"Bet I could crack that code," Fleming sniffed.
"Quiet!" Jane whispered.
Kehyeyan carefully replaced the card back into its case and secured it on his person, said a few more words, then stepped aside as Councilor Drake took the podium and began fielding questions.
Aki really didn't pay much attention to what was being said; she swirled a finger in her drink and fished out a sprig of mint. She took a taste, feeling the warmth travel from her midsection straight to her head (what was she drinking? It had conveniently slipped her mind), then rested upon Gray's shoulder and watched the proceedings with detached interest. She was content; strange as the concept was initially, the Deep Eyes had become her extended family–Ryan's dedication and loyalty, Jane's inner strength, Neil's droll cynicism that concealed a brilliant mind…and of course there was Gray, someone who meant much more to Aki now, and who would always be there for her. The only other person whose presence she wished for was–
"Excuse me, but is this seat taken?" The voice, warm and benevolent, brought her attention to the fore, and she looked up to see the elderly face of her mentor. She immediately got to her feet and gave him an affectionate hug. It was odd to see him out of his customary lab whites; he had instead donned something that almost resembled an old-fashioned tuxedo.
Dr. Sid took a step back and cocked a paternal eye at her. "That's, ah, very…interesting attire you've chosen. Definitely not regulation."
Aki blushed and she sat, gesturing for him to take a seat beside her, feeling a little bashful despite the alcohol. "I'm glad that you could make it in time."
"I almost didn't. Dr. Doyle insisted on giving me his grand tour of the Houston lab facilities. I must say that I'm impressed by the improvements they made ever since I was in New York. Until that city is completed and repopulated, it looks like I'll be using the facilities here."
"What of all our research data?" Aki remembered the lab's large vault, containing shelf upon shelf of optically encoded files. It represented nearly the entire life's work of Dr. Sid, and also all that Aki had toiled for all these years. If Hein's techs had managed to gain access to them–
Sid waved a hand in a dismissive gesture. He fixed her with a patient gaze. "Not to worry. I backed those up at several other sites; one server is right here in Houston." "But…the most important data, especially pertaining to our Gaia theory, is stored in an even more efficient computer." He tapped a long forefinger against his temple. "Now, I take it that Aki has mentioned the Eco Division? Good. Let me expound upon it for all of you…"
* * *
The barrier shimmered overhead as the last minutes of the old year passed. The air on the balcony was charged with anticipation.
Barely containing her excitement, Aki squeezed Gray's hand just a little bit harder. A little ways behind them were Ryan and Lita, and off to the side, Jane and Neil could just be seen among the small crowd. Sid had been cornered and spirited away by yet more of his old colleagues. The last Aki saw of him one of them was pressing a drink into his hand while he was animatedly chatting away.
All attention was riveted on the sky; from the lounge behind, a voice from the New Year's coverage on the screen could be heard, counting down the final thirty seconds.
"Well, I'll be damned! Is it me, or is the Ice Queen finally thawing?" Gray was discreetly looking off to the left. Proudfoot, the Deep Eyes' resident kick-ass tough-girl, was leaning against Neil, apparently at ease. It was difficult for Edwards to determine how much alcoholic consumption played a part, but at least Jane and Fleming weren't engaging in their customary barb throwing.
"Aki, I'll bet that once New Year's is over they'll be back to spitting and clawing at each other again."
She cast a glance at the couple. "You're on, Captain." Aki snaked an arm around his waist, but before Gray could say anything else, the last seconds of the old year arrived. Several people began to count aloud, and others immediately took up the chant.
"Eight…seven…six…five…four…three…two…one…HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
A sea of boisterous voices–both sober and not so–rose all around, mixed with all sorts of various noisy party-makers. All over downtown Houston, searchlights stabbed skeletal fingers of colored lights past the tallest buildings, picking out the greenhouse-like structure of the barrier supports. Then an anxious mood tensed everyone as all eyes turned towards the great bio-etheric field overhead. For a few seconds more, nothing was different.
"Look!" someone exclaimed, and pointed towards the west.
Out towards the perimeter of the city, the familiar omnipresent glow of the barrier had vanished. The blackness began to spread, consuming the golden illumination before it as it bore down upon them like a monstrous malignancy; sector by sector, the powerful emitters were shutting down as power ceased to flow from the massive generators beneath the city. As everyone adjusted to the darkness above the highest buildings, a collective gasp arose, for there now appeared something that very few who lived a sheltered existence inside a barrier city had ever beheld.
Against the pitch-black sky, the stars appeared as innumerable points of hard light.
Then the barrier was completely extinguished, and there was only another brief moment of darkness before a new source of radiance came into being–fireworks blossomed above the dead barrier emitters. As they did so, the three decks of observers cheered wildly.
Gray swept Aki into his arms. "Care like sharing a dance or two with me?"
She positively beamed and gave him a kiss that he would probably not forget for a long time. "I thought you'd never ask." Together they headed back inside as the city around them celebrated as never before.
* * *
It was nearly three in the morning and Neil's heart was pounding, not only because he had managed to accompany a somewhat muzzy-headed Jane her back to her place, but because she had not voiced a single objection. He had somehow filched a full bottle of vintage champagne from the bar, and as he now leaned beside the entranceway, the bottle dangling from one hand and waiting for her to unlock her apartment, he tried to adopt a nonchalant mood but just couldn't keep a silly grin off his face. Proudfoot had made the journey from the dance floor back to the living complex relatively wobble-free, and her speech was no longer slurred, but she couldn't seem to enter the correct door combination. Maybe she was still a touch buzzed, or couldn't conceal her nervousness.
Finally, on the third try, she managed to get it right, tossing her coat into the room. Then she turned to him in the doorway, encroaching well upon his personal space. Her eyes shone with admiration. "Neil…you didn't tell me you were such a good dancer! I could get used to that."
And the urbane Fleming charm strikes again! Ladies and gentlemen, Neil is rounding third on the way home!
His grin grew along with his bravado. "You know, it would be a shame to waste such a nice bottle of bubbly. What say we have a nightcap?"
There was an awkward silence, during which the two of them locked gazes. His pulse double-timed as he closed his eyes in anticipation of their lips brushing. He could smell the wonderful fragrance of her perfume, and could hear the rustling of her clothes as she stepped close. Her breath was warm, and her lips were just touching his own…before they continued on and to give him a kiss on the cheek. His eyes snapped open as she tittered and slipped past the edge of the half-open door.
"Good night, Neil," she said blithely.
"Wha-what? Hey!" But his protest was to no avail; the door was already swinging shut in his face. "Jane, what are you doing?" he bleated.
The door cracked open and a sliver of her face and one eye appeared. Below, her slender fingers wrapped around the neck of the bottle and tugged it from his shocked grasp before it slammed shut again.
Neil couldn't believe it. His mouth opened and closed, making him resemble a human carp. Finally he managed to splutter, "Dammit!"
He glanced up the hallway, and then down it, hoping that there were no witnesses to this rather embarrassing incident. Frustrated, he smacked a hand against the door, which stood unmoving, indifferent to his plight, and received nothing but a stinging palm in return. This was definitely not how he had planned the evening to end. He bet that even Ryan and Lita were probably preoccupied right now.
This really sucked.
"Fine, be that way! I hope you get a hangover!" he spat, and waited for a response, but it appeared that she had indeed retired for now, with his bottle and without him. He eyed the electronic lock, and wondered if he could pick it. At least he could get his champagne back. Yeah, right, and get thrown in the brig for breaking and entering, for starters. He decided to let it go…if Proudfoot was going to be a tease, then so be it because he sure as hell didn't need that. Grunting in disgust, he turned on his heel to leave.
Behind him, the door popped open yet again, but this time it gaped wider. This was good, for not one but two hands reached out and seized his arm. Neil gave an astonished yelp (was he really so surprised, though?), but the owner of the hands in question only laughed. Jane literally yanked Fleming off his feet and hauled him, unresisting now, into her apartment. The door closed yet again, but this time it locked.
And it stayed that way.
* * *
While Fleming was enjoying his nightcap, Gray was swimming up out of slumber. He sensed that his companion was not asleep, so he cracked his eyes open and hoisted himself up on an elbow to peer over her shoulder.
Aki's face was a pale half-oval in the darkness of the bedroom, and her hair was spilled out in a dark corona upon the pillow. She gave him a cursory glance before returning her attention to the large window, which ran from floor to ceiling. The blinds were partly open; the rooftops of the neighboring apartment blocks easily visible for the well-appointed living quarters rose higher than the others and looked out towards the eastern side of the city. Beyond the last few adjacent buildings, past a massive, darkened support of the now-unneeded barrier and the remains of the old city, lay the distant plains. An early crescent moon hovered at the edge of this world, shining eerily over the abandoned buildings of outside of Houston and casting a glowing trapezoid of soft radiance onto the carpet. Faintly, sounds of partying could still be heard even at this time of the morning…daybreak was only a few hours away, then the horizon would haze and the lightening sky would herald the break of day, but there were obviously the hardcore party freaks who would not stop celebrating until the crack of dawn.
"What's wrong, Gray?"
"I was just about to ask you the same thing."
For a long moment she remained silent. When she finally spoke, her voice was contemplative. "Mmmm…just thinking about what the next few years are going to bring."
"How so?" In the moonlight her eyes were almost luminescent as she looked at him again.
"Rebuilding the planet is going to be a considerable task. Both for nature and us." Her bare body rustled as it turned beneath the bed sheets. "Dr. Sid and I are going to be quite busy organizing the new Division, you know."
Gray drew his mouth down in a half-grimace. "And that means what? That we'll be separated again?" he asked warily. "I'm not sure if I like what I'm hearing."
If he expected a lecture, the reaction he received instead was unexpected; he could almost hear the smile in her voice. "Don't worry. There's one little detail that Sid neglected to mention. You and the Deep Eyes will be working for us."
He blinked. "Working for you?"
"Yes, for us. Dr. Sid, myself, and the Division here in Houston. Do I hear any objections?"
"Well…I'll have to get back to you on that."
"See to it that you do, because you'll be receiving your commands from me, mon capitaine!" She emphasized her last two words by jabbing his sternum with a forefinger.
"Okay, maybe so, but until then…I'm your commanding officer, and you'll obey my orders."
She tilted her chin defiantly. "Or else what?"
"Or else you'll be detained here, in my quarters, with only military rations and allowed only one visitor, namely me. That's what." His grin was that of a sly fox.
"In that case, I'll gladly disobey you, captain. Just a single visit, though?"
"Yeah. One that lasts all day." He plopped back down, laughing, and after a second Aki herself did the same, then succumbed to a huge yawn. She nestled her face in the hollow of his shoulder and sighed as she felt his fingers run though her hair. "Can discuss the details over breakfast?" she asked drowsily.
"Absolutely," came the sleepy reply and Aki smiled as her eyelids began to grow weighty. Beneath the hand that was resting lightly on Gray's chest she could feel the reassuring lub-dub of his heartbeat. And just before she drowsed off again, her inner voice spoke a simple phrase that followed her into dreamland.
At last, I can dream in peace.
~ E P I L O G ~
Nearly half a continent away lay an ordinary dwelling near the west coast, on the outskirts of what was once the rambling megalopolis of Los Angeles. Within, a slouched figure silently watched a video screen as yet another broadcast aired, this one from the Hawaiian Islands, the inhabitants celebrating as the New Year arrived.
BFD, as his father would have said.
His icy eyes betrayed no emotion, they were bloodshot from lack of sleep (thanks to the painkillers), and the half the contents of a bottle of vintage brandy. On the small tabletop beside him rested a thick-bottomed glass, half-full. Awkwardly he picked it up with his left hand, his movements restricted by the sling that held the knitting bones of his broken right arm immobile. He absently swirled the dregs of amber liquid within the glass and continued to glower at the screen without really seeing it.
Then he came back to himself, rising to his feet and crossing over to the window to stand behind the glass, being careful not to jostle his injured arm. He knocked back another slug of his drink before transferring the glass to the stiff digits of his right hand as he stroked his chin with leather-clad left fingers. The gesture was characteristic of him, ingrained as it was in his spirit.
Spirit.
Damn, there was that word again. He snorted to himself in the small warm room, which was softly lit only by a small lamp on the nightstand.
Well, doctor…it appears that I owe you one. He drained the glass. Touché.
The incessant noise of the holo-screen receded into the background as he continued to look out across the open fields and the small range of hills marching nearby, still shrouded in the near-darkness. The old ranch-style house was owned by an HMA associate, a major who had kept it well-maintained all these years in case humanity ever emerged from behind the barriers and reclaim its birthright. Most had ridiculed the notion, but from recent developments it certainly looked like that time had arrived.
There was a hesitant, almost apprehensive knock at the door, and another moment passed before he deigned to answer.
"Come," he bade, not bothering to turn.
A heartbeat passed and the old wooden door cautiously opened, its hinges complaining. A torn and dirty black leather overcoat creaked softly as it swung from its hook on the backside. Footsteps approached, ceased beside him.
"How are you feeling?" The voice was male and not young.
The fingers tightened slightly around the empty glass. "Better. A testament to your medical proficiency, Gary."
The other man gathered up a small smile. Twelve days ago there had been a flash in the early afternoon sky and an ear splitting crash out in the fields. A smoke column had led him to the impact site. Injured and bleeding, the escape pod's pilot had evidently endured a very rough ride…the wreck lay at the end of a ragged furrow like an exclamation mark. The occupant within had suffered a mild concussion, a broken arm and some the bumps and bruises associated with atmospheric re-entry, but he would live. After days of medical attention he was lucid enough to speak clearly but would not reveal his point of origin.
Major Alton, who had recognized this man despite his injuries, and was wise enough not to probe too deeply, suspected that a great deal remained unspoken. He was hiding something–sights locked away deep beneath human consciousness haunted his gaze. Alton realized that some things were better left unasked, for the answers could be disturbing.
The major gathered his courage. "I'll have a meal ready at oh-eight-hundred, and…" He stopped as those lupine eyes settled upon him and an eyebrow lifted in an impatient arch.
"Humph. That sounds…wonderful." He turned on a heel and strode back to the small bedside table, setting his glass down and punching a key on the screen's remote. The joyous racket on the display ceased immediately.
"Very well, then. See you in the morning." Alton began to head towards the door, glad to be out of the room. But as his hand reached the knob, the man behind him spoke again…it was almost as if he had been timing it, but the voice was oddly out of character.
"One more thing," it said.
Alton turned, his hand still touching the cool comforting metal of the doorknob. The lean silhouette before the window regarded him silently, holding a glass that had mysteriously refilled itself, and took a single step forward. His face illuminated by the lamp, General Douglas Hein raised his glass in a toast.
"Happy New Year, Major."
~ FINIS~
