2.31.3

Can’t Go Home Again (Epilogue, Pt. 2)

Captain London scowled so hard his dark face contrasted the light of the monitors that glowed down upon them.

“What message does that send any Channeler that wants to join us? Help us?!”

A woman labeled under the insignia of Tetris, Governor Dara, spoke next. In this, at least, Astrid put a face to a name heard often aboard the Aldebaran.

“I am in support of your initiative, Captain, and I am proud to say so,” the dignitary opened. “I do not believe Specialist Hale is at fault any more than you do. But this may be the only way to keep critics off her back until this can be sorted out. If we shield her from discipline, that is all the public will see.”

Finally, the representative for the Earthen Coalition cleared his throat. And Astrid peeked her eyes up to the voice perhaps most meaningful for an integrated civilization on Earth itself.

“None of us can change how polarizing this issue has become. We are now all under pressure to manage our people and keep them unified. And unfortunately, the only thing they can agree on right now is that the attack on Septimus was a historic turn, and Astrid Hale had a critical role. Even if they do not understand to what extent.

“You know the public cannot be reasoned with amid hysterics. Detaining Hale may appease those looking for harsher action while we open a full investigation into the Static Opposition and its leaders. If she is innocent, a full investigation will show it. This move may even curry sympathy with those, like you, that feel she had nothing to do with the plot against Septimus leaders.

“Some of the upheaval may yet be mitigated if concerns do not go ignored. What effect it has on the Channelers, and their willingness to proceed with the integration initiative, is theirs to decide. But that only matters if they can be accepted by society, you know that, Captain. We must manage the home front, or all this is moot.”

“This is a placating measure,” London persisted. But his voice grew subdued. “You’ll make her look guilty when she is guilty of nothing but saving lives! This isn’t going to stop anything on either side. You said so yourself, this is just an attempt to calm things down. It won’t stop the Static Opposition, or what’s coming!”

“Compliance would go a long way to convincing others the Channelers are a manageable, agreeable resource, willing to bear the trials necessary for integration,” Admiral Avram insisted. “Would you trade a temporary measure that would protect her for formal charges and a further media circus?”

The older man that presided over Astrid’s recruitment hearing still didn’t support her fully, it seemed.

“Specialist Hale belongs to the Earthen Military Service,” Mays reminded him. “Therefore, if the Coalition deems, she should be placed in a military detention center. Overseen by our own people, and out of reach from civilians.”

The group conferred further. But the conversation always circled back to the example set by the first ever “Free Channeler”. As though, at best, Astrid could hope to take all the attention and misgivings upon herself. To spare her fellow Channelers, and her fellow Servicemen, from the ire of a people.

They hurled words and proclaimed their own wisdom. But through it all, Astrid garnered an encompassing understanding: The path for a Channeler exodus required that she step out of the way. At least for time being.

Captain London invited her into the world to decide the fate of the Channelers. But not, it seemed, her own.

“If she and her captain comply,” the politicians finally extended to Admiral Mays. “We will agree to your request. She is to enter military detention on Fort Magnus effective immediately. It is the only facility equipped for Channeler detention and training, and out of the reach of the civilian rebels.

“She may be reinstated in the future. At an indeterminate time, if, and when, the Admiralty Board and the Earthen Coalition agree it is in the best interest of her, the Service, and the people they swore to protect.”

~~~

Astrid, still resigned inside herself, struggled to hear London speak in the moments after the hearing closed. With the comm monitors blank, and overhead lights flicked back on, a stark and dismal reality asserted itself.

“This is bullshit, Hale. They’re doing this only because they don’t know what else to do.”

“She knows very well what she’s going through, Captain,” Mays told him.

Warrant Officer Parrish awaited at the door. It seemed to Astrid they’d be seeing a lot more of each other soon.

It wasn’t until Mays and London marched the Channeler across the yard of the fort’s compound, and three of the Aldebaran’s team bounded up to assail their captain with questions, that any voice finally garnered Astrid’s care.

“Captain, what’s happening?” Anders immediately shot to London.

“They’re putting her in a cell. Until we can sort all this out.”

Romo nearly jogged to keep up. “What? For how long?”

“We don’t know.”

“Hey Kitten…” Tenya planted herself close the Channeler.

“Step away from the prisoner,” Parrish warned.

But Admiral Mays waved him off. After all, they only had a few moments.

“Kitten, talk to me. Please,” Tenya pleaded.

“It’s fine,” Astrid mumbled. “What about Maxwell? Did we send anyone? The S.O. may have left some behind. Or gone back.”

“Ramsey and Dell are on it, it’s taken care of,” the woman assured her. But she looked hurt the Channeler said nothing else.

Once inside the Detention Center, Mays agreed to give them a few minutes to say their goodbyes.

The admiral ordered those taking guard to the outer doors, including Parrish. She stayed, herself. She couldn’t leave them completely alone, Astrid knew.

“Hale,” London aimed to summon the Channeler’s attention. “I’m sorry it came to this. This might be for the best, for now. But we’re going to get you back, I promise.”

She didn’t want to hear his kindness, nor his consolations. If he so badly wanted her to speak there could be only one thing to say to him, before she’d consider any other.

“Why didn’t you tell me about Rue?” The Channeler put to him. “Was that ‘for the best’ too?”

“Rue? What-?” Tenya blinked in confusion. But Romo drew closer.

He caught Astrid’s shoulder in a meaningful grip to turn her to face him. “It was her out there I saw, wasn’t it? She told you… Didn’t she?”

“It is true, then.” The Channeler took it as confirmation. “And you knew. That’s why you didn’t want me looking into it.”

“Astrid, it doesn’t matter,” Romo rasped to her. His dark eyes glinted with insistence while he braced her shoulders between his palms. “Listen to me, she is her own person. You are your own person. You are not bound to her. You don’t have to become her, and you don’t owe her anything, do you hear me?!”

“What the hell is going on?” Tenya demanded to know.

With a sigh, the captain succumbed to another secret revealed.

“Astrid is Rue’s sister,” he announced. “I’ve known since before we found her.”

Tenya, alarmed, spun to where Romo encased Astrid’s shoulders between his hands.

But Anders, he rounded on the captain. “This whole time? You knew this whole time?!”

“That’s the only reason he recruited me,” Astrid provided, her voice embittered. “Isn’t it, Captain?”

“Do you honestly think I would have brought in anyone by lineage alone? That if you had been as imprudent as some of your fellows, that I would have risked my people?

“We were on the planet three days. And yes, I specifically watched you. But I watched you. What you did, how you behaved, what you believed. I came to know of your existence because of your relation to one of my team, but I never would have chosen just anyone to initiate the Channeler Division, or integration. Our work is too important.”

Astrid couldn’t parse another secret. She couldn’t even muster a response now that he corroborated what she hoped might be a lie.

“I believed in you,” he insisted. “I still do. After what we’ve accomplished, don’t you see that, Hale?”

The others looked to the Channeler for a cue on how to react, for they reeled themselves.

But Astrid swept any grace she might have felt under the fury already carried in her core.

Cold, disconnected, lost, she never felt more alone.

“Ask that question again after she’s had some time, Captain.” Admiral Mays instructed from her post. “We need to move on.”

Tenya hugged her, and the Channeler embraced her in meager, half-hearted hands.

Romo pulled her in for a hug as well and whispered that he would give Dell her best, and that they’d be waiting for her.

Then, slowly, so she’d understand the reverence with which he handled them, the agent detached her tags from her necklace.

“We’ll hold onto these for you,” he told her. “We’ll keep them in your locker, right next to your music player. For when you get back.”

But Anders, he came at her with both hands, to cup her cheeks between fingers and cradle her face close to his.

The sadness and frustration in his fern orbs beckoned to some part of Astrid’s heart still buried away. She read in his energy how badly he needed to connect. To find her behind her eyes before she went away.

But she struggled to muster anything more for him than a forlorn stare.

“Astrid.” He spoke her name, barely above a whisper. As though only they remained in room. “Astrid, tell me what to do. What do I do?”

He strained to hear her voice. To make any pitiful wish his command.

She kept her hands to herself, resolute. But neither did she push him away from where he held her.

“Find them, Anders. Where they’re hiding. And who’s helping them.”

His forehead wrinkled to her short request. And she finally managed to name the new emotion that coiled in her gut. Something even he couldn’t touch.

“I get it now.” She realized why Channelers weren’t supposed to bond, or care for another like she cared for Opal. How hate born of grief could drive one, anyone, to madness. “They should be afraid of me.”

The man’s tender expression flashed away as though he didn’t recognize the person who stood before him. But it returned, colored by remorse.

In forgiveness she felt undeserved, he pressed his lips to her temple.

“I’ll see you soon.”

The team loosened their tight circle around the Channeler. Admiral Mays cleared her throat and came to collect her.

The admiral guided the specialist with a hand to her back, through the doors and to the guards that awaited on the other side.

The entrance slid closed, to separate Astrid, once again, from her people.

Mays didn’t bother with platitudes and apologies. To put their first Energy Specialist in detention came with its own burdens and regrets.

She arrived at a cell matching that of the prisoner next to her.

Her new neighbor approached the window.

Before the specialist passed through the entrance to her own private cell, teal eyes met sapphire.

With a melancholy smile laden with vindication, Rahna welcomed Astrid back.

[END, Vol II]