His head span.
"You really think, this is such a good idea?" Mera asked him sceptically. "We will be gone for at least three weeks!"
Shivers ran down his spine from the cold.
"Of course, we'll have to inform the President," Jason argued. "But I reckon the senators are glad for every day of reprieve they can get."
His arms and legs felt numb.
"But what if something happens?" Mera objected. "Until our arrival, we are out of range for any kind of communications."
Brett shrugged. "Well, you need to leave someone in charge. What about Gerron?"
Shalamorn looked at Neri. "What do you think, my daughter? Do you trust Gerron? What does your heart tell you?"
Neri exchanged looks with Mera and Jason. "I say, we can trust Gerron. But Brett should stay here, also."
Jason could tell what they were all thinking. They needed Diane.
Thick drops of water. A fogged wall of glass, which clouded his view. His eyelids felt heavy, and it took him a moment to remember where he was. Right, the stasis chamber.
"I'll try talking to her again," Brett promised, when Jason stepped into the stasis chamber. "She is mad and all but she still knows that this is important."
"She was never really ok with Neri and me being together," Jason replied. "I guess, she was kind of hoping I would grow out of it."
Brett looked around, observing the people around them who prepared the ship for the take-off. "Well," he said, "we did most of the stuff on our own. We only told her, when it was necessary. And sometimes not until the mission was completed. She barely saw the both of you together, the way the rest of us did."
He grinned at Jason's puzzled expression. "Come on," he exclaimed and gave him a pat on his arm. "We all knew about the way you feel about each other."
Jason rolled his eyes but mirrored the grin.
Shalamorn and her daughters stood across the room, exchanging a few words with the technicians.
"So," Brett spoke on and ran his finger over the metal frame. "Is it really safe for a human body?"
Jason shrugged. "I guess. They would never let me travel along otherwise. Shalamorn said the physiologies of both our species are pretty similar."
"In all matters?" Brett perked his eyebrows up in a wolfish way. Jason gave him an annoyed look. "Don't you wanna say goodbye to the girls, as well?"
"Later, I have some news. Guess, who hacked into the ORCA communications system?"
"Who?"
"Froggy and Vanessa," Brett beamed. "I wanted to tell you but then I stumbled into your discussion about the trip, and I forgot about it."
"Did you talk to them?" Jason wanted to know.
"Of course," Brett replied. "Froggy said since the contact broke off weeks ago, they all have been very worried and eager for news. So, he applied all the tricks he learned in college to get into H.E.L.E.N.'s System. Vanessa helped him with some of the mathematical algorithms to break the security codes, … and bang! I had the shock of my life, when I came out of the shower yesterday, being stared at by Vanessa, Froggy, Zoe and Lena."
Froggy, being a genius, had already his Bachelor Degree in Applied Informatics, and was working now on his graduation from the Yale University. Vanessa was halfway through her Bachelor degree in mathematics in Sidney, while Zoe had a sports scholarship, currently training for Olympia in Beijing. Lena had recently graduated with highest honours from the University of Melbourne in Medicine and was now an intern at the hospital there. They had all stayed in contact until the shut-down of communications.
"What did they say?"
"We couldn't talk very long, so I just brought them up to date. H.E.L.E.N. was very sorry to throw them out again. She apologised three times."
"Yeah, she always had a soft spot for Froggy..."
The glass door was opened, and the memory of the last conversation with his brother became a distant echo in his mind. Two pairs of blue eyes watched him concerned. Another shiver ran through his body. His arms and legs were no longer numb, just cold. He felt weak, and his knees buckled slightly. They talked to him, but he heard their voices like being under water. A blurred bubbling. Then someone moved too fast for him to keep up. A warm body was suddenly pressed against his and he realised, he had been about to fall down. He could feel her hair on his face and smiled weakly.
This was her. Neri held him in place. She was so strong.
The warmth of her body slowly transferred to his. His sight and hearing became clear.
"I'm okay," he murmured.
"Can you walk?" Neri asked him close to his ear.
"Sure," he replied. Not sure.
"Careful," he heard Mera tell her sister when Neri led him to step out of the chamber.
"How long since we landed?" Jason wanted to know. His voice was slurring.
"A few hours." He scanned the room for the source of the answer and found Shersheba in a corner. She looked as concerned as the girls but kept her distance.
Neri led him to a blank bed to sit down.
"Well, this is embarrassing," he said in another murmur.
"Not at all, my dear." Shalamorn came into his sight. "We already expected something like this to happen. Cold sleep is a rough procedure for a body, especially the first time."
"Being weaker than women in something physical is a sore spot for the men of Earth," Mera explained, grinning. "They are kind of sensitive about it."
"I needed some time to wake up, too," Neri assured him, still supporting him.
"You don't need to rebuild my self-esteem, Neri," Jason smiled and tightened his grip around her. "No serious harm was done there. I never had any problem with you being stronger than me."
Shalamorn handed him over a cup of warm water which he drank up in a few sips. The warmth flooded him and chased away the last bit of dizziness.
"Thanks," he said. "Any news from home?" he wanted to know.
"Mother … Diane ordered Brett back to ORCA," Mera responded. "He said your parents had a big fight, but your father had his way. He and Brett are now in the Pyramid. We already informed them of our safe landing. Do you want to talk to them?"
Jason shook his head. "Later." He looked in direction of the entrance door. "Wow," he realised. "I'm on a different planet." He took a breath. "That needs some processing."
"I know that feeling," Mera smiled sympathetically. "But you get used to it."
"Your Majesty," Shersheba interjected and took a step forward.
"Yes. Right. Thank you for reminding me," Shalamorn responded.
"What is it?"
"News travel fast," Shalamorn explained. "Already many people have gathered in front of the palace. I'm afraid, we don't have much time to recover."
"They are eager to see you," Shersheba added and gave Jason a look. "All of you."
He looked down at himself. He wore old jeans and a simple grey t-shirt.
"They don't care as much about clothing as the people on Earth," Mera said. "Don't worry, you look just fine."
The girls wore their usual dress. Shersheba had changed into a simple dress with a pattern of gold, white and blue.
"Don't be afraid," Neri told him. "I feel they are friendly."
"If you say so," he replied and stood up. "Let's go."
The craft's door opened to a small floor which looked similar to those in the Pyramid. They walked through corridors and chambers, filled with serving personnel and guards. Everywhere, they stopped in their activities to stare at them. The older ones scolded them for it, or at least, it sounded that way to him. Many seemed curious, but not unfriendly. Only a few shyly avoided direct eye contact. They looked away when Jason caught them staring at him.
A very brave boy approached them and presented them a plate with food. Jason recognised bread, fruits and some fish, even though they looked unfamiliar. Shalamorn smiled at him but shook her head. She spoke a few words to him and he turned to Jason. Gratefully, he took a piece of bread.
"D'hai," he tried.
Obviously, he had done it right for he found himself beamed at, not just by the boy but also by Shalamorn and the girls. The boy fled, and they walked on until they entered a yard with a fountain. Across was a huge door.
Neri took his hand and bit her lip. She seemed to be just as nervous.
"I am sorry for putting you through this with no time for preparation," Shalamorn apologised. "But you have nothing to worry about."
She took Neri by the shoulders. "You are my daughter and the anointed heir to the throne. They know what you have done for them." She turned to Jason. "And I made sure, they also know about your contribution."
"We were very focused on the things that went wrong," Mera added. "But when we arrived, we had the chance to talk to some of them. They are very happy about our return." She gave Shersheba a look. "You were right. It was about time to look at things with our own eyes."
Shersheba blinked. Obviously, she hadn't expected that. She nodded.
"Shall we go then?" Shalamorn asked, and after some agreeing nods, she opened the door. Jason exchanged another look with Neri, then took a breath as they all stepped through.