A Long Time Ago
11. Sort Of A Beginning

Two days later, Tass was sitting on her bedroom floor, reading. She'd decided not to work on the project tonight...it was going well, after all.

Just when she was beginning to wonder if maybe she should go and get something to eat, her mother suddenly burst in without knocking. She looked slightly panicked. "Tass," she said, "do you know where your brother is?"

"No," Tass said, looking up with concern. "I haven't seen him since...this morning, I think."

"I told him he couldn't go out with his friends, but he's gone anyway...and he didn't take his comlink. He's been gone for hours."

Tass slammed her book shut. "He might've just done it to spite you..."

"I'm worried, Tass."

"I know..."

She followed her mother downstairs. Jek was making calls to Nerra's friends. Some of them couldn't be reached, and some of them said they didn't know where he was. A quarter of a hour passed. Tass kept expected Nerra to walk in at any moment. Certain that any second now the door would open, and she'd be so relieved and then they'd all have a meal, or something...

Another quarter of a hour passed, and he didn't come in.

"I'm going out to look for him," Jek finally said. He took his comlink, and kissed Lelleri on the cheek before he left. Tass hurried upstairs to look out of the window, hoping she'd be able to see her brother, even though that was near impossible...she could see nothing but windows, metal and ships.

Several hours passed. She wasn't sure how she got through them. She knew that of course there was a sensible explanation for where Nerra had gone...he'd gone out with friends and lost track of the time, maybe gone to some party or something...but she was so worried.

"Tass!" her mother called. "I'm contacting the security forces. Your father called. He hasn't found him yet. He's looked everywhere he can think of."

At that, Tass decided on something. She found her own comlink (hidden under the bed) and called Dekabyn. He picked it up on the other end.

"Dekabyn," she said desperately, before he could talk.

"What?" he asked. He obviously knew it was her.

"Nerra's run away."

"He has?" Dekabyn sounded shocked. "Seriously? Where's he gone?"

"How in the universe should I know?! I have no idea. My mum's called the security forces. My dad's gone out looking for him-"

A door opened downstairs. Tass spun round...it was her father, but he was alone.

"Still nowhere to be found," he said, panicking. Tass turned back to the comlink. round here. There's no way Mum will let me out of the house, she's too worried. But maybe if you came with me, she'd let us go out and look...she likes you, you see."

There was a pause on the other end. "Alright,"

Then he hung up. Tass leaned against the wall, her heart thumping like crazy. Her brother could be anywhere. He could have been hurt...

She raced upstairs. She swung into her room. She shoved the button on the wall. The secret compartment opened...and there was nothing inside. Absolutely nothing.

Her first thoughts were thoughts of anger. He took all my credits! All of them! Where in the world is he planning on going?

And the holograph...that was missing too. That calmed her down somewhat, although she wasn't sure why. Why'd he take that with him? I thought he hated me...

I suppose he changed his mind then. Unless he took it just so he could rip it up.

An insanely loud BEEEEEEP noise echoed about the house. She raced downstairs again and opened the door. It was Dekabyn. He'd clearly run all the way down.

"Mum, Dekabyn's here," Tass yelled into the next room. "Can I go out and look for Nerra with him?"

"No!" Lelleri yelled, almost in hysterics now. "You're not leaving this house!"

"Hello to you too, Tass," Dekabyn said.

"Hello Dekabyn. Mum, please..."

"Bring Dekabyn in, and you can both stay. Or send him home. Anything." She came out of the room, Jek's hand on her shoulder. "Please, Tass!"

Tass looked at her friend. "C'mon, Dekabyn..." She grabbed his hand and led him upstairs. When they were out of earshot she hissed, "He's taken all the money."

"What d'ya mean?"

"Me and him had a secret stash of credits. It was in my room. It's all gone." She decided not to mention the picture. "There was enough there to get him off the planet."

"Have you told your parents?"

"Not yet." Another loud BEEEEEEP sounded. "That'll be the security forces. I can tell them as well."

Dekabyn nodded, and both of them went downstairs. On the way down, Tass suddenly stopped and turned to Dekabyn.

"Stay the night."

He nodded.

He could have slept in Nerra's room, but ended up sleeping on her floor instead.