Chapter Six (65 million years ago)
"What are you thinking about?" Dintael asked Alana. She was staring straight ahead, indicating she was deep in thought.
Alana was startled out of her reverie and was understandably irritated. She snapped at him rather harshly
"Why are you here?" Dintael backed off a little and apologized.
"I'm sorry, I just wanted to know what you were thinking about. You have the air of an intelligent type. If it's something technical I could help you, I mean I've had some training in—"
"I don't need your help!" Alana jumped to her feet and screamed in Dintael's face. Her eyes flicked from anger to regret and a pensive mood. She bit her thumbnail and added in a meek voice
"I am sorry, that was inappropriate of me." Her desire to apologize for everything probably stemmed from the attitude in which she was raised.
"No, I shouldn't have said that." Dintael was annoyingly calm. Anger boiled up in Alana again. Who was this boy, and why did he feel the need to apologize all the time?
"If it took you a scream in the face to realize that, you are a waste of my time." Alana snapped
"Easy, easy, do you want to talk?"
"No I don't!" A
"You spiteful..."
"The same word my father used." Alana murmured through clenched teeth.
"What was that?"
"My father used to always call me spiteful before he hit me." Dintael blinked and took a few steps back. He felt sorry for what he had said, knowing now that Alana had been raised poorly. Recovering quickly, he reminded himself about the mission. He lowered his voice and said apologetically
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"Then why did you say it in the first place?" She barked to his face.
"I probably can't even fathom what you've been through."
"Then why don't you stop making assumptions about my feelings?"
"I'm sorry."
"Stop saying that! It isn't your fault."
"What else can I say?"
"I don't know, but what I'll say is goodbye!" For the second time, Alana left him with a view of her back. However, this time there was something about his eyes that made her want to return.
A few days later
Once more Alana was sitting in the sun when Dintael appeared.
"Is there anywhere I can go where you won't find me?" She didn't look up from the book she was reading.
"Theory of Egwir Physics? That's a fair deep subject."
"I am an intelligent woman."
"Yes, quite I gathered."
"Why do you follow me everywhere?"
"You are the first female to have shown me disdain. It is a new sensation that I wished to explore again... and again." His hand crept closer to hers. She drew it back. Then she planted her own with all of her strength along his left cheekbone.
"Daah!" He cried out and raised his left hand to his face. The area below his eye was already becoming a mottled purple.
"Is that a sensation you wish to experience again? Because in that case; I would be more than happy to grant the request."
"Why do you feel the need to react physically to everything that I say?"
"Because that's how I was treated for twelve years. Old habits die hard, sorry if that was too cliche."
"Well, beautiful and feisty eh? Okay, I can handle that."
"What makes you think that I have any interest in you whatsoever?"
"If you did not..." He leaned closer so that Alana could feel his breath on her ear "...you would have stalked away in a huff by now."
Alana turned her head to face Dintael. His blue eyes held hers in a trance that she could not break. Her conscience screamed at her to spit at him, or hit him with the hefty book that sat in front of her, but her heart overrode her motor function. He leaned toward her and once again her instincts were to run away, but she could not. Her lips met his and an elated sensation calmed her mind that was shrieking. Then all at once it was back again.
"I have to go." Alana stuffed the physics book into her bag and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She slung the canvas loop across her shoulder and walked away. Dintael leaned his head on his hand and stared after her with a sigh. Her long skirt blew with the wind and the angle of the sun slanted through the light fabric in such a way that he could see the silhouette of her slender legs. Alana paused and then turned around. Their eyes locked and an infinite message leapt from one to the other. She turned back and pondered the glance. She tossed her head and crossed the plaza to the space she had bought with part of the inheritance that her brother had given her.
It is too soon, don't trust him. Not after everything you've been through. Her conscience murmured to her, but she was so taken with the kiss that it went almost unheard.
Sitting in the outdoor courtyard, Alana had in fact been considering methods of transportation. She was beginning to think that, for all the advanced technology, the Alterran Empire must certainly have a better means of moving people from one location to another. She had been studying the universal physics to figure out the equations needed for such a device. Physics excited her mind as no other subject could. Throughout her lonely days, Alana had developed a keen and logical mind. Without the normal girlish distractions, she poured herself into her studies. The satisfaction gained from puzzling out the secrets of the universe made up in small measure for the meagerness of her life. Now that she was free, the subject still held her fascination.
Later that same day
"Hello again." Alana said as a shadow crossed the page of the book she was on. She had almost finished.
"Why are you studying physics?"
"Why should I tell you?" Alana turned the page and felt two strong hands on the sides of her face. Dintael lifted her face to his and kissed her hard. Her mind was sent reeling again and she barely found the words to say
"Well, I can't tell you now, I can't talk."
"Well, I see I made an improvement."
"Why do you follow me everywhere? Wherever I am, there you are too."
"When you care about someone, there's nothing that will stop you from being with them."
"You have only known me for a few days."
"A few days are long enough." Dintael kissed her again and this time she returned the offer.
"So what are you doing? I'd like to share. It's better that way, sharing." He turned such intense eyes upon her she could not pull herself away. He had a reassuring presence. But Alana was afraid of ridicule. He could see her hesitation. "Seriously, what has you so absorbed?"
"I'm trying to build a device that will let out people go from domain to domain in a single step.
"I find that quite interesting."
"The fact that I am trying to build it, or the fact that I'm studying it?"
"Both really. On one of the planets they found an abundance of a very interesting stone."
"Why do you tell me this?"
"This stone conducts energy like nothing we have ever seen."
"What do they call it?"
"They have not assigned to it an official name, however, for the moment they are calling it naquadah."
"Divine stone." Alana murmured under her breath, her eyes darting from side to side.
"Would you like some?"
"How would you deliver this naquadah to me?"
"I work at the science center, I could say that I was taking a small amount for testing. Which I would be doing... only I wouldn't be doing the testing."
"The fourth door from the right on the third building over to the left from the ceremony bureau building. Have the delivery there within two hours."
"Yes ma'am."
"Just make sure you have it."
Alana sat in her main space and finished reading the physics book. She heard a soft knock and opened the door to find a package that was about twelve inches by twelve inches. She dragged the weight inside the door, surprised at how heavy it was. A small card fluttered to the floor. Careful script read: I am sorry if I have offended you. I can attempt to make it up if you will meet me outside the third door on the left of the first building to the left of the ceremony bureau. Alana thought for a moment about why she should trust him. She picked up the data transmit device and asked to be connected to Dintael.
"Hello?"
"Dintael?"
"Yes?"
"Why should I let you try and make up?"
"Do you enjoy listening to live music?"
"I have never listened to live music before."
"Well then, I'll take you to the best music arena in the Great City."
"Why should I let you show me the Great City? I could always hire a guide."
"Would the guide buy you dinner and take you walking on the piers?"
"No."
"Do you want to see the city? Listen to music? Walk along the piers? There is a colored current that will pass right over the shield over the North pier."
"I suppose it would be rather nice." Dintael's voice was breaking down the warning signals in Alana's mind.
"All right then, I'll meet you in fifteen minutes outside the door to your home." She wondered how he knew where she lived. But in her excitement it slipped her mind.
"All right." Alana put on the more formal of the two dresses she had. It was slightly roomy and it was a deep royal blue. After the plain canvas dress she had worn all day every day for several years, it was a great improvement.
Alana sat on her couch and nervously waited for Dintael's soft knock. When it finally came she thought she crossed the room in a single leap. In the light that shone out from inside her foyer, Dintael complimented Alana on her looks. Together they walked to the station and got on the transport.
"Thank you."
They walked to the station on the south side of the outpost. The craft they were on rose into the air and when they had flown some distance and were over the ocean, it sank below the surface. Alana looked out in amazement and wonder. As fish rushed past she looked behind them to see where they went in the wake of the ship. As she did so, she thought of a song that Sheria had played to her as a young girl:
Do you ever wonder
What lies ahead?
And what lies behind
Or if what you've just passed is dead?
Do you ever wonder
What's to the side?
As you're rushing past life
Straight ahead, with no end in sight
Do you ever think
About where you've gone?
Sitting alone in the cold
Thinking you're the only one?
Do you ever wonder
What's to the side?
As you're rushing past life
Straight ahead, with no end in sight
As the pod rushed past the water she remembered that she had to stop and appreciate things once in a while.
The transport pod moved carefully under one of the arms of stone that formed a pier. It surfaced and water streaked off the sleek contours of the advanced transport. A voice came through the announcement system saying.
"Docked at City Central, south west pier."
Alana stepped out of the transport pod and onto the pavement of the southwest pier. She looked up in wonder at the tall stone columns and her mouth wouldn't close. She tried to take in the splendor of the command center for the entire Alterran Empire.
"How do you like it?"
"It is...quite large."
"I knew that would be the first thing that you said, come, I'm taking you to the finest restaurant in the City."
"I don't think that I want that."
"Why not?"
"For twelve years my meals were whatever Sheria could find to cook for me, and then later whatever I could find to cook for myself. I fear that if I try food like that, I would never want to stop eating."
"What was your favorite thing to eat?"
"I did not have a favorite thing. My food was without flavor."
"You are not an easy woman to agree with Alana."
"You are not easy yourself."
"There is an entire avenue of places to eat, why don't we go there and you can decide then?"
"What do you recommend?"
"The clams are wonderful this time of year."
"I believe then that I shall try the clams."
They ended up talking for hours about various things. They strolled slowly along the stone paths and ended up at the North Pier. Dintael pointed upward and Alana followed the direction of his finger with her eyes. Swirling blue, purple and pink washed above the shield, bathing the whole landscape in color.
"Blessed fury!" Dintael looked at the central timekeeper and leapt up.
"What is the hurry?"
"The last transport back to the outpost leaves in ten minutes." Alana jumped up and blessed the fact that all she had elected to bring was a small wallet for her citizen identification card. The lightweight case provided an easier parcel than a large bag. She and Dintael looked quite a sight running along the southwest pier and they jumped on just before the final call. Alana was out of breath and leaned on Dintael for support.
"Well, that was the most excitement I had in my life!" Alana managed to gasp out and she smiled.
"I hope that your experiment goes well, when you finally get it running."
"Why do you bring this up now?"
"You are incredible, and I wanted you to know that."
"Thank you."
The transport arrived and Alana and Dintael stepped off. He escorted her back to her house and kissed her good night.
"Thank you for the lovely evening."
"Likewise."
Alana shut the door and Dintael walked back to his home. Alana leaned up against the inside of the door and rested her chin on her clasped hands. She had a flurry of motion in her stomach and began to get ready for bed.
The next morning
The next morning Alana woke up and decided that owning only two dresses would not do at all. She picked up the data transmitter and called Sheria.
"Sheria?"
"Yes Alana?"
"Would you help me to choose clothing?"
"Of course, why do you ask my council?"
"You stayed beside me through it all."
"Very well, when does the next transport leave for the Great City?"
"I am unsure. I'll meet you at the transport station in twenty minutes."
"All right."
The two women met at the station and found that there was a transport that left in a short amount of time. They boarded and the transport once again went above the ocean before dropping down into it. Alana was once again taken aback at the sights rushing past her.
"What is it?" Sheria looked out to where Alana was staring.
"The underwater life is beautiful." Alana sighed as she looked out at the colorful fish that came into view for only a few moments. The pair stepped off the transport and looked around.
"So, where shall we begin?"
Let's find a directory before we do anything." Alana said, ever with a planning mind. Sheria and Alana found a map of the city and saw that one section was entirely devoted to marketing. Quickly making their way, the two women saw the marketplace. Gray gates parted to an open atrium, around which on all sides rose tiers of shops, five stories high. Sets of moving steps zigzagged everywhere to provide easy access. The clamor was amazing. Couples, groups and vendors all chattered animatedly.
Windows displayed the central wares of each shop and Alana found that a majority of them were sanctioned for clothing. Sheria ran excitedly after Alana. She remembered back to when she and Jasera had done the same thing.
"Come on Sheria!" Alana exclaimed as she spun around. The fifteen year-old's eyes gleamed with pleasure. Though she may have looked sixty, Sheria had the muscles of a well toned thirty six year old.
Alana ran into the first clothing shop she saw and looked around the hanging clothes. One of the women that worked in the shop walked over and asked.
"Is there anything with which I can help?" Before Alana could say anything, Sheria interjected.
"Well, she doesn't know her size, and the last time I was fitted it was before I bore three sons."
"Sheria!"
"I haven't had the time, and besides, I'm not sure I want to know how much my figure has changed." Sheria responded and adjusted her bag.
"Right this way." The woman ushered with her right hand toward a series of curtained rooms.
A flexible tape with markings on it was wrapped around Alana's hips, waist and bust. She was slightly disturbed, but Sheria nodded that it was okay. The qualms were slightly eased. The fitter took the measure of her neck to waist and waist to floor.
A series of calculations that looked odd to Alana were made and the woman announced.
"Your size is a class four. If the garment needs additional tailoring, we have several attendants that are available. Happy shopping!"
Alana dashed out to the clothing racks once more and looked at the thin transparent tags attached. Stock code rushed by in intersecting lines and at the bottom was the size. The fabrics varied in weight and she saw a gold dress that was simple, casual and elegant. Pulling it down from the rack, she held it up to herself and showed Sheria.
"Why don't you see how it fits?" Sheria suggested and motioned to a different set of curtained rooms. Alana walked into one and closed the partition. A few minutes later she came walking out with the gold dress on. Sheria wrinkled her nose in disapproval and Alana looked in the reflection. She too disagreed with the result and kept looking through the clothes.
"This is amazing." Alana said as she looked at one of the attendants. A machine scanned the differentials in the size and the fit of the garment and then placed it on a flat belt that moved into an area enclosed with glass. With the press of a few buttons the blouse was altered to fit the wearer.
"I know, they have gotten more sophisticated."
"Really?"
"Yeah, when I was a little girl they had to do that by hand. You might spend weeks waiting for your outfit to be properly tailored."
"Wow."
"What's that?"
"The woman is choosing a color that would better compliment her tones."
"Oh, I understand."
"So, about these clothes..."
"Can I pick a different color?"
"Different color, print, texture, you name it. That little machine over there can do it all."
Several hours later they were both weighed down with bags from several stores and carts.
They passed a store that had a sign saying "Revitalize! Re-energize! In a few minutes you can look years younger!" Alana smiled at Sheria who shook her head.
"Yes Sheria! I'll pay for it. Come on!"
"All right." Sheria handed the bags she was carrying to Alana and walked into the room. A small half circle of a counter ran past and a woman sat behind it reading. When she saw Sheria walk in she jumped up and picked up the writing utensil that had been laying down on the counter.
"How many and what treatment?"
"Just me, and whatever you've got that'll make me look my real age, I'll take it."
"If you don't mind my asking ma'am, how old are you?"
"Two weeks ago I turned thirty six." The receptionist's eyes widened and she plastered a smile to her face.
"Well, I'll see what we can do, right this way." She showed Sheria to one of the padded chairs and Alana sat on one of the benches that lined the opposite wall.
"Alana?"
"Yes?"
"What do you think I should do?" Sheria was looking through several pictures of treatments available.
"I don't know, this one looks kind of nice."
"I'm not sure red would look good on me."
"Fine then, what about this brown and they'll make your skin just a bit darker, and your eyes this really pretty shade."
"All right."
"Ma'am, if I may?" The woman who would be doing the treatments put in.
"Yes, I'll take any advice right now."
"Since you have delicate features, I think that the style you are looking at is a little extreme. Maybe a paler tint of eyes and hair would be better."
"Whatever you think will look good, do it."
"You're granting me the freedom to do that?"
"Yes, I trust you." Sheria emphasized the last words through slightly clenched teeth.
"All right, lets get started." The woman took out several long, thin, gray devices. One of them had a small curved point at one end. This tool she held at a very precise angle and pricked Sheria's skin ever so slightly. Thin mounds of blood seeped up and Alana became alarmed. Sitting up straighter she asked
"Are you all right Sheria?"
"The pain is almost undetectable."
"As long as you remain well."
"Yes Alana." The woman had made three pricks on Sheria's forehead, one on each cheek, and one on the chin. With a smaller, flatter device, she turned on a slight hum. Alana could see the excess skin pull tighter and become firmer. The blood and pricks disappeared. As the beautician pulled something else out, Sheria asked
"How do I look so far, Alana?"
"Your physical appearance has greatly improved."
"Well, that sounds nice." Sheria smiled and folded her hands over her stomach. Small diodes seemed to protrude from the bottom of the device. Holding it about a quarter of an inch away from Sheria's cheeks, the woman swirled it in small circular motions.
"What did that do?" Alana asked, fascinated by it all.
"That stimulated the blood vessels. There is more blood circulating so she looks healthier and has more color."
"Oh." Alana stacked all of the bags below the bench so she could prop up on her hands. She wanted to see all of the things that could reverse the signs of aging. After much more poking, prodding and light waves the treatment was finished. A mirror was lifted from the table and handed to Sheria. Promptly she began to choke up.
"What is wrong?" Alana inquired.
"Nothing is wrong. I am happy beyond words." Sheria put a hand over her mouth and then hugged the woman who had done the procedures.
"I get this a lot." The woman mouthed over Sheria's shoulder to Alana who nodded in understanding. Alana was the next recipient of a hug and she soon began crying as well.
"I'm glad you are happy." She whispered to her mentor.
That night Alana fell into bed, exhausted from her strenuous day. She thought of the naquadah package and vowed to open it as soon as she woke up.
The next morning
Alana woke up and un-wrapped the package. With a strong knife she tapped the ore and it split into four fairly even pieces. Lugging them one at a time, she dragged them into her bathing room and waved her hand over a sensor. A bright white light shone from the ceiling of the bathroom. She filled the sink with water and dropped a chemical mixture into it. The slabs of naquadah were slid with difficulty along the hewn basin of the sink. The chemical made the impurities crumble and stain the water. It became so cloudy she couldn't see anything below the murky surface. With a great effort, she hoisted the slab out again to find the stone shining in the bright light. She repeated the process with the other lumps of naquadah and then set them on either side of the sink. Excitement flooded her and she took out a folded piece of paper from her bag.
She had stolen the recipe from the science center for a substance that would make a fire burn extremely hot and mixed the ingredients together. Donning eye protection, she poured the viscous substance into the deep bathtub and repeated the process twice. Then Alana lit a stick and dropped it in. She squinted against the scorching flames and put one of the lumps in a crucible. Placing it in the fire, she watched as the naquadah melted down to a gray fluid and then she removed the crucible. Carefully she poured the fluid into a mold and repeated the actions. After she had done this, she dropped a chemical tablet into the bathtub and the flames vanished, the fuel evaporated and there was no sign that a fire had even been there.
It was a good thing that a few ventilation openings were free to rid the room of the fumes. The naquadah as it melted gave off a strong odor of rotting flesh. Nearly, gagging, Alana managed to make it through the melt-down.
The next morning, she split the molds and out fell two small rings. She attached wires to the material to test how it conducted energy now that it had been melted and re-shaped. The numbers she got in response were phenomenal. At once the wires were removed and she examined the rings she had created. Each one had the striations of the naquadah present but was otherwise perfect.
Alana shook her head, the ring needed to be controlled. The device needed mechanisms that would allow it to contact the other one. Then all of a sudden she got an idea. The young scientist ran out to the plaza and looked up at the starry night sky. Alana captured an image with a small device and then when to the central reference center. She typed quickly and discovered that a transport was leaving in a few minutes for the closest planet in Alterran controlled space. She raced to the station and leapt aboard just as the doors closed. The craft rose and there was a bright flash. The jump was apparently a quick one because they re-appeared in the upper atmosphere of the planet. When they landed Alana got out, captured another image, and got back on. She returned to her home and, though excited, had to go to bed.
The next morning she jumped out of bed and attached the device to another one and the images printed out. She compared the two night skies and saw distinct patterns and shapes. She outlined them with a thick writing utensil. She found thirty-eight similar constellations and one that was different on each picture. That night she took a picture of a night sky from a different planet. She compared them and found the thirty-eight constellations similar and the one that was different.
Alana assessed in her head what she needed. For one thing, she would need a powerful sensor, able to lock onto any combination of the thirty-eight symbols. That sensor would have to become part of the physical make-up of the item itself. Then it hit her. All of the doors in her home were opened and the sensors were cannibalized. All except for the front door, the doors each had the activation crystal ripped out. The home's central data terminal was accessed and stored the information that she had just learned. Alana walked around the house again, gathering this time the memory sensors rather than the detection ones. On a whim, she put the small crystals into a shallow mold and poured a tiny amount of molten naquadah over them. When it cooled she attached the disc to the terminal and saved the data in the fresh memory crystals, the pathways were created by the naquadah shell. A message appeared on the screen that said:
Please enter name of new storage device.
Alana bit her lip for a moment before typing in "Active Matrix Disc".