A/N: Now, back to the actual story. This chapter might not exactly be the
excitement-packed roller coaster of entertainment you people deserve, but
hold on, things will start happening soon, I promise. Really. Until then,
thanks for reading!
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Interlude:
Thirty-six hours the captain had said. That's how long he had left. Then it was time to leave again. No use getting too attached to any of these people. No use ever getting attached to anybody ever again, seeing how it always worked out.
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Chapter Six: Infinity to 1
Trance was standing at the big window on the observation deck. Waiting. She knew that eventually, Milon would come here. The breathtaking view of the stars was something that would always help to calm her down when she was feeling stressed or unhappy. Milon might be all smiles and jokes, but she could tell that was a façade. She hadn't wanted to put any pressure on him before he had settled in. That would just result in him putting up more of a protective wall. But the time was right now, soon. He would open up to her; he would see how much they had in common. Maybe he would even seek her out, if he felt the same kinship as she did.
"Rommie, where's Milon?"
"In his quarters."
"Sleeping?"
"No. It looks like he is getting ready to go out."
"Thanks."
She wouldn't have to wait much longer. Sometimes it was easy to predict what was going to happen. Not as mystical a talent as people might think. She just found people easy to read. What they were feeling, and what they were about to do.
About fifteen minutes later, the door glided open silently and she heard soft footsteps approaching. She turned her back on the glittering space outside and looked at him.
"Hi Milon."
"Oh, hi…"
Disappointment? Maybe he wanted to be alone. Or maybe he was still a bit uncomfortable with her alien appearance. Well, he could get used to that, right? She took a few steps towards him, smiling reassuringly.
"Come with me, there's something I want to show you…"
She reached out and took his hand. He gave her a sort of shy look, which she found absolutely adorable, but he didn't pull his hand free. She led him down the corridor to the conservatory. After the door shut behind them, she let him go and said:
"Rommie, can we have some privacy please?"
"Privacy mode engaged…"
The computerised voice sounded a little suspicious. Maybe Rommie didn't like what she thought Trance was going to do. Or maybe she just didn't like being left out.
"What are you up to?"
Milon grinned at her. A cute, mischievous, but completely false grin. She just smiled back and walked a bit down the little path between the flowers. He would follow her. If nothing else then out of pure curiosity.
"So, is this what you wanted to show me?"
He was looking around, not as impressed as she thought he would have been. Earth didn't have many flowers these days. Then again, that was what they were here to talk about, wasn't it?
"Yes. Have you ever seen such beautiful flowers?"
"They're nice."
He looked a little lost. And younger than his age, which she had learnt from Rommie, who had 'overheard' Tyr asking him.
"Harper's clothes seem to fit you," she said, "And his personality."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean the way both of you use humour like some kind of defence."
She walked up to him and looked into his eyes. She had never seen anyone who had eyes that pure green before. Not bright green but a nice, light colour.
"Oh, that."
He smiled again, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. She took both his hands in hers, her own skin so bright purple against his almost white. Turning his hands over, she noticed a pale, vertical scar on the inside of each of his wrists. A flash of pain went through her heart. That was not some kind of battle scars or anything that could have been caused by an accident. She ran her thumbs lightly across the scars, feeling a strange sadness in her heart. Milon pulled his hands back and crossed his arms across his chest defensively.
"Milon…"
"What? What do you want me to say? You weren't meant to see that."
"Why not? Maybe I was. Maybe I can help you. Maybe fate brought you to us for a reason."
"Fate? I don't believe in fate."
"Do you believe in a perfect possible outcome to any situation?"
"Not a big fan of perfection."
He wouldn't meet her eyes, just looked past her at the flowers.
"I am. And I know that somewhere, in some reality, every possible situation is played out, and somewhere there is a perfect future."
He suddenly looked back at her. Then he nodded slowly, almost like he was thinking to himself.
"Well, I can't really see how that helps. Besides, if you know about dimensions, I guess you know the odds for your 'perfect future' as well. You know how many dimensions there are?"
"No."
"Infinite. That's how many. So one to infinite, there's your odds."
He sounded tired. Suddenly the pieces were starting to come together for Trance. The way Milon had insisted that he was from Earth, even through all the contradictions. Yes, she understood now and it was making her heart beat faster. It was an exhilarating experience, like she was in touch with the universe.
"Milon... you're from Earth?"
"Yeah."
She stepped closer, until they were almost touching. Although she knew that nobody could be listening to them, not even Rommie, she still felt that she had to whisper.
"But you're not of this world, are you? You're not from our reality..."
"You figured it out. What you want, a medal?"
It might be a sarcastic remark, but his voice was soft and a little sad. She could see hurt in him, something she knew he hadn't let any of the others see.
"Why did you come here?"
Milon stepped back and looked around again. Then he shrugged his shoulders and smiled. The mask was back on.
"No reason. It's not like I have some evil plan or anything. I don't mean any harm; I'm just sightseeing, having a bit of fun. Sounds like someone you know?"
If Trance could have blushed, she would have. She didn't answer. Milon said:
"You're really trying to figure me out, aren't you? But are you prepared to tell me anything about yourself? I didn't think so."
"Tyr came down to medical," she said, "He made me tell him about your test results..."
Anything to avoid the subject.
"Doesn't matter," Milon said.
"He said you had admitted to having power. What did he mean by that?"
"Why don't you ask him?"
The answer, or lack of, stung her. How come he felt he could tell Tyr of all people, and not her?
"No reason to get hurt," he said, "I kinda had to tell him."
"I'm not hurt! Why would I be?"
Trance laughed a little to make her point clear. She spun around and looked at the flowers, then picked a yellowing leaf off one of the plants. Maybe it needed a little more water?
"You were, for some reason. That's it. Do you get it?"
She dropped the leaf on the ground and turned around to look at him.
"Get what?"
"That's one of my... abilities. To know. I kinda thought you might have it too?"
Oh. Oh! How could she have been so blind?
"You're an empath?" she said.
"Yep. Are you?"
"Not really..."
"You're uncomfortable. You really don't wanna tell me one little thing about yourself."
"No... I much rather talk about you... you're much more... interesting..."
"Yeah, right."
There was so much she wanted to know. So much she wanted to ask.
"Where you come from, what is it like?"
"I don't know. Pretty bad, I guess, but then again, it's all relative, isn't it? Seems worse here, at least at home the war is over."
"How did you get here?"
"There are machines that can punch through the veil. I really needed to get away, so I just took off... didn't know where I'd end up. Turns out, it was here."
There was that sadness again in his eyes. He was running from something. Something bad. She wished that he'd tell her, so she could comfort him. She leaned in closer. She really hadn't planned this, but she just went with the feeling. Who knows, maybe it would turn out... perfect.
"Don't," he took a step back from her, turning his head away, "You're just feeling sorry for me."
"I'm feeling... sympathy. It's different."
"Nah, it's all the same. Besides..." a razor-thin, sarcastic smile swept across his lips, "I don't do relationships."
For some reason she felt like crying. Not for the rejection, only for what she sensed had been the reason behind it.
"But you used to?"
His face went through a quick series of emotions, surprise, sadness, pain and settled for anger.
"What is this? The third degree? Why don't you just leave me alone!"
"Milon…"
"No!"
He pulled away from her touch, angrily. Turned around and started walking towards the exit. Of course the door was locked. She followed him, slower, seeing desperation and pain in his every movement. Milon reached the door and slammed his hand into it when it refused to open.
"Milon, take it easy…"
"Don't tell me to take it easy! You don't know me!"
"That's true. But I would like to. If nothing else, then to be your friend."
He let out an almost sobbing sigh and clamped his hand over his eyes. Then he looked at her again.
"I'm sorry, Trance. I shouldn't have… got angry. Probably shouldn't have told you all this either…"
"Yes. You did the right thing. I only wish you'd tell me… what it is you're fleeing from? Someone hurt you, didn't they?"
"Yeah. No. Not like you mean. Just… open the door. Please."
Trance didn't want to open the door. She wanted to keep him here, in the calm room with the beautiful flowers. Keep him to herself. But that was a selfish thought, and not something she had either the right or the opportunity to do. Instead she called out to the computer:
"Rommie, unlock the door."
"See you later…" Milon said.
But she didn't think it sounded like he meant it.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------
Interlude:
Thirty-six hours the captain had said. That's how long he had left. Then it was time to leave again. No use getting too attached to any of these people. No use ever getting attached to anybody ever again, seeing how it always worked out.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------
Chapter Six: Infinity to 1
Trance was standing at the big window on the observation deck. Waiting. She knew that eventually, Milon would come here. The breathtaking view of the stars was something that would always help to calm her down when she was feeling stressed or unhappy. Milon might be all smiles and jokes, but she could tell that was a façade. She hadn't wanted to put any pressure on him before he had settled in. That would just result in him putting up more of a protective wall. But the time was right now, soon. He would open up to her; he would see how much they had in common. Maybe he would even seek her out, if he felt the same kinship as she did.
"Rommie, where's Milon?"
"In his quarters."
"Sleeping?"
"No. It looks like he is getting ready to go out."
"Thanks."
She wouldn't have to wait much longer. Sometimes it was easy to predict what was going to happen. Not as mystical a talent as people might think. She just found people easy to read. What they were feeling, and what they were about to do.
About fifteen minutes later, the door glided open silently and she heard soft footsteps approaching. She turned her back on the glittering space outside and looked at him.
"Hi Milon."
"Oh, hi…"
Disappointment? Maybe he wanted to be alone. Or maybe he was still a bit uncomfortable with her alien appearance. Well, he could get used to that, right? She took a few steps towards him, smiling reassuringly.
"Come with me, there's something I want to show you…"
She reached out and took his hand. He gave her a sort of shy look, which she found absolutely adorable, but he didn't pull his hand free. She led him down the corridor to the conservatory. After the door shut behind them, she let him go and said:
"Rommie, can we have some privacy please?"
"Privacy mode engaged…"
The computerised voice sounded a little suspicious. Maybe Rommie didn't like what she thought Trance was going to do. Or maybe she just didn't like being left out.
"What are you up to?"
Milon grinned at her. A cute, mischievous, but completely false grin. She just smiled back and walked a bit down the little path between the flowers. He would follow her. If nothing else then out of pure curiosity.
"So, is this what you wanted to show me?"
He was looking around, not as impressed as she thought he would have been. Earth didn't have many flowers these days. Then again, that was what they were here to talk about, wasn't it?
"Yes. Have you ever seen such beautiful flowers?"
"They're nice."
He looked a little lost. And younger than his age, which she had learnt from Rommie, who had 'overheard' Tyr asking him.
"Harper's clothes seem to fit you," she said, "And his personality."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean the way both of you use humour like some kind of defence."
She walked up to him and looked into his eyes. She had never seen anyone who had eyes that pure green before. Not bright green but a nice, light colour.
"Oh, that."
He smiled again, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. She took both his hands in hers, her own skin so bright purple against his almost white. Turning his hands over, she noticed a pale, vertical scar on the inside of each of his wrists. A flash of pain went through her heart. That was not some kind of battle scars or anything that could have been caused by an accident. She ran her thumbs lightly across the scars, feeling a strange sadness in her heart. Milon pulled his hands back and crossed his arms across his chest defensively.
"Milon…"
"What? What do you want me to say? You weren't meant to see that."
"Why not? Maybe I was. Maybe I can help you. Maybe fate brought you to us for a reason."
"Fate? I don't believe in fate."
"Do you believe in a perfect possible outcome to any situation?"
"Not a big fan of perfection."
He wouldn't meet her eyes, just looked past her at the flowers.
"I am. And I know that somewhere, in some reality, every possible situation is played out, and somewhere there is a perfect future."
He suddenly looked back at her. Then he nodded slowly, almost like he was thinking to himself.
"Well, I can't really see how that helps. Besides, if you know about dimensions, I guess you know the odds for your 'perfect future' as well. You know how many dimensions there are?"
"No."
"Infinite. That's how many. So one to infinite, there's your odds."
He sounded tired. Suddenly the pieces were starting to come together for Trance. The way Milon had insisted that he was from Earth, even through all the contradictions. Yes, she understood now and it was making her heart beat faster. It was an exhilarating experience, like she was in touch with the universe.
"Milon... you're from Earth?"
"Yeah."
She stepped closer, until they were almost touching. Although she knew that nobody could be listening to them, not even Rommie, she still felt that she had to whisper.
"But you're not of this world, are you? You're not from our reality..."
"You figured it out. What you want, a medal?"
It might be a sarcastic remark, but his voice was soft and a little sad. She could see hurt in him, something she knew he hadn't let any of the others see.
"Why did you come here?"
Milon stepped back and looked around again. Then he shrugged his shoulders and smiled. The mask was back on.
"No reason. It's not like I have some evil plan or anything. I don't mean any harm; I'm just sightseeing, having a bit of fun. Sounds like someone you know?"
If Trance could have blushed, she would have. She didn't answer. Milon said:
"You're really trying to figure me out, aren't you? But are you prepared to tell me anything about yourself? I didn't think so."
"Tyr came down to medical," she said, "He made me tell him about your test results..."
Anything to avoid the subject.
"Doesn't matter," Milon said.
"He said you had admitted to having power. What did he mean by that?"
"Why don't you ask him?"
The answer, or lack of, stung her. How come he felt he could tell Tyr of all people, and not her?
"No reason to get hurt," he said, "I kinda had to tell him."
"I'm not hurt! Why would I be?"
Trance laughed a little to make her point clear. She spun around and looked at the flowers, then picked a yellowing leaf off one of the plants. Maybe it needed a little more water?
"You were, for some reason. That's it. Do you get it?"
She dropped the leaf on the ground and turned around to look at him.
"Get what?"
"That's one of my... abilities. To know. I kinda thought you might have it too?"
Oh. Oh! How could she have been so blind?
"You're an empath?" she said.
"Yep. Are you?"
"Not really..."
"You're uncomfortable. You really don't wanna tell me one little thing about yourself."
"No... I much rather talk about you... you're much more... interesting..."
"Yeah, right."
There was so much she wanted to know. So much she wanted to ask.
"Where you come from, what is it like?"
"I don't know. Pretty bad, I guess, but then again, it's all relative, isn't it? Seems worse here, at least at home the war is over."
"How did you get here?"
"There are machines that can punch through the veil. I really needed to get away, so I just took off... didn't know where I'd end up. Turns out, it was here."
There was that sadness again in his eyes. He was running from something. Something bad. She wished that he'd tell her, so she could comfort him. She leaned in closer. She really hadn't planned this, but she just went with the feeling. Who knows, maybe it would turn out... perfect.
"Don't," he took a step back from her, turning his head away, "You're just feeling sorry for me."
"I'm feeling... sympathy. It's different."
"Nah, it's all the same. Besides..." a razor-thin, sarcastic smile swept across his lips, "I don't do relationships."
For some reason she felt like crying. Not for the rejection, only for what she sensed had been the reason behind it.
"But you used to?"
His face went through a quick series of emotions, surprise, sadness, pain and settled for anger.
"What is this? The third degree? Why don't you just leave me alone!"
"Milon…"
"No!"
He pulled away from her touch, angrily. Turned around and started walking towards the exit. Of course the door was locked. She followed him, slower, seeing desperation and pain in his every movement. Milon reached the door and slammed his hand into it when it refused to open.
"Milon, take it easy…"
"Don't tell me to take it easy! You don't know me!"
"That's true. But I would like to. If nothing else, then to be your friend."
He let out an almost sobbing sigh and clamped his hand over his eyes. Then he looked at her again.
"I'm sorry, Trance. I shouldn't have… got angry. Probably shouldn't have told you all this either…"
"Yes. You did the right thing. I only wish you'd tell me… what it is you're fleeing from? Someone hurt you, didn't they?"
"Yeah. No. Not like you mean. Just… open the door. Please."
Trance didn't want to open the door. She wanted to keep him here, in the calm room with the beautiful flowers. Keep him to herself. But that was a selfish thought, and not something she had either the right or the opportunity to do. Instead she called out to the computer:
"Rommie, unlock the door."
"See you later…" Milon said.
But she didn't think it sounded like he meant it.
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