The tunnel stretched for miles as they traversed the underbelly of Capitol City. The walk was made in silence, both men contemplating the conversation that had taken place. Arian was surprised by how far the city expanded outward from the South Tower. It was an hour before they came to another steel vaulted door.
“Well, are you ready?” asked Ansley.
“I’m ready,” was Arian’s reply. Ansley stepped forward and typed a code into a keypad beside the door. It creaked as hydraulics worked from deep within to lift the massive door from its resting place beneath the floor.
Arian stepped through the opening, past the last walls that made up the base of the dome that covered his home, Capitol City. For the first time in his life, he stood in the direct yellow sunlight, the ultraviolet rays warming his skin. He felt naked and insecure without the safety of his controlled environment, as if he were for the first time exposed. The fact that he had been forced to leave his qubit behind enhanced this feeling.
“We wouldn’t want you being tracked outside the city, now would we?” were Ansley’s words. He had never considered that his personal qubit could be used as a means for those in power to track him. The thought unnerved him. He felt as if he were stepping off a ledge from which he could not return, yet still he moved forward. Curiosity had taken him over now. He needed answers, and he felt they resided outside the dome with Ansley.
What answers he desired were a mystery even to him. He knew he had been stirred by Ansley’s remarks about searching for his mother’s killers and finding no Centauri. But more than that, he felt that somehow, by following this path, he would also find the answers to his questions about Kaiya, and as ashamed as he felt about it, this was his main concern.
They were met outside the dome by a towering figure. Rippling muscles, dark skin, and a six foot six inch frame, Jabari struck an intimidating figure.
“Do you still have your dodger?” Ansley’s voice whispered from behind.
“Shut up,” mumbled Arian.
“Jabari, you big bastard, let me introduce you to Arian Cyannah,” announced Ansley, embracing the large man.
Jabari, who dwarfed Ansley, gave him a couple of hard pats on the back and muttered, “Whaddup, whaddup.” Then turning his attention to Arian, gave him a sharp head nod. Arian, being unaccustomed to these mannerisms, gave an awkward nod back, feeling self-conscious. “Well let’s go, dog. The vehicle’s this way.” Jabari’s massive arm reached around both professors and ushered them to a six-wheeled all-terrain cruiser.
Arian had never seen a vehicle quite like this one. It was painted to resemble the tan, brown, and reddish tones of the high desert that surrounded them. It was open on top and seated four, with re-enforced shocks buffering the six thick tires, designed to drive over large rocks and uneven terrain. Two fuel canisters were attached to the back, which Arian found to be quite primitive. He was surprised combustion engines were still in use.
As they drove away from the city, Arian looked back, dumbstruck by the imposing dome that receded behind him. They were heading into what appeared to be the wilderness, as he could see nothing in any direction but dirt, brush, cacti, and red mountains in the distance. Arian was in the back alone, while Ansley and Jabari occupied the front, with Jabari at the wheel. Leaning forward, Arian whispered in Ansley’s ear.
“What?” Ansley yelled over the roaring engine.
“I can’t hear you.”
“I said,” screamed Arian, “I thought all the local Natural Born occupied a city right outside our walls.”
“That’s to the east of the city,” yelled Ansley in reply. “Our destination lies to the west, about 70 miles out. There are too many people and too many ears in the worker’s settlement. Jabari lives in a city known to its residents as Beladero. People who live their lives independent of the Overseers populate it. It’s a good place for us to talk.”
Jabari swerved to miss a larger rock, throwing Arian to the other side of the cruiser. Looking up front to his driver, he noticed he had some sort of headphones in and was bobbing his head as if to music. Jabari looked in the rear view mirror and adjusted it to catch Arian’s eye.
“Yo, you excited to have some NB cuisine tonight, dog?” Arian looked back confused, and Ansley punched Jabari on the arm, both of them laughing. Arian didn’t like feeling so out of his element, and this feeling was exacerbated by their constant demeaning jokes.
After around an hour, Arian saw the tell-tale signs of civilization on the horizon. Thick black smoke rose from large towers, which, though foreign to him, could only indicate industry. The community was framed in the shadow of a sharp cliff that rose almost a thousand feet into the air. As they drew closer, he saw the buildings taking form. They had a peculiar shape, as if many white washed clay buildings had been placed on top of one another until they reached four stories in height. At that level, the construction moved inward and formed another four stories, as if creating large steps to the top of the cliff. The roofs were thatched in colorful tile and seemed sturdy enough. It was obviously a large community, and Arian wondered how they obtained water in the middle of this vast desert.
As Arian was leaning forward to ask Jabari and Ansley about the water source, his question was answered. His eyes were drawn upward by a rainbow created from diffracted light to a massive waterfall spilling from the center of the cliff face and landing somewhere behind the step-like buildings. Engulfing mist moved outward from it and wet the tops of the roofs in front.
“Incredible,” he muttered to himself, though Ansley seemed to have heard.
“Within the rock face is a deep cavern containing a reservoir, part of an extended underground cave system that extends east to just beyond Capitol City. The water rained down thousands of years ago, filtering through the mineral rich rock into the aquifer. Pressure has forced it back up into the spring that waters these lands. In the capitol, their wells draw locally from this source. This entire region is sitting atop an underground freshwater sea.”
“Amazing,” remarked Arian. “Does the Parliament know of this place?”
Ansley laughed. “There are thousands of places like this, my boy, all flourishing outside of the Arameus Empire. Parliament doesn’t care. They only care about threats.”
Jabari guided the cruiser past the open gates of the city and through the outlying neighborhood streets. Arian had never seen so many children in his life. In Capitol City, as in all the domes, the children were raised in the pediatric nurseries together until they reached school age. From there, they were moved as they aged, from dormitory to dormitory on the East Campus of the Institute until they graduated to University. At this time they were divided up according to aptitude and future profession. But this…this was something different. Children were running free in the streets while disinterested parents enjoyed drinks on their balconies. Boys and girls ran together, throwing fake dodgers to one another in make-believe Patolli matches. They laughed and chattered to each other without a care. Arian wondered if they realized how insignificant they all were. He thought not.
The cruiser came to a stop in a square in the middle of the city. In the center of the square, a large pool of water bubbled, filled by the waterfall before splitting off in eight equidistant directions, radiating outward. Footbridges went over the canals, allowing for pedestrian traffic. Jabari and Ansley exited the vehicle, followed by a puzzled Arian.
“We walk from here,” said Jabari, as he headed toward a festive looking storefront on the east side. Ansley put his arm around Arian’s shoulder as they followed Jabari.
“I’m sure you are curious about this place,” began Ansley. Arian nodded. “The waterfall feeds this central cistern and from here, the water is re-routed through irrigation to various community farms around the city. They are self-sufficient, producing all their own food. The electricity for the city comes from that system of turbines midway up the falls.”
Arian gazed up at the massive turbines, which provided power for all these people. He was surprised such a primitive people had been able to maintain such a self-sufficient lifestyle. He thought of the people who slaved outside Capitol City to provide the power and food, wondering why they hadn’t found similar means to support themselves. A life of supporting others seemed trivial.
“You have to be glad that we come from a society that has bypassed these base needs and can focus on the beauties and complexities of the universe,” he said to Ansley. “What truths am I supposed to learn here?”
Ansley frowned. “If these are your impressions, then you understand nothing of the beauty and complexities of this universe. Loosen up and follow me. I’m sure we will be able to blow your superior mind in time. Right now, however, Jabari wishes to be a gracious host and show us some of the local cuisine. I suggest you be respectful.”
Shrugging, Arian followed across one of the bridges toward the storefront. Pushing through the curtained door, he was stunned by brightness of the interior. It was as if he had left a world of nondescript desert tones and entered another, filled with bright colors. Each wall was painted in contrasting shades of blue, red, and yellow. Ornate chandeliers hung every few feet along the ceiling, emanating a blue hue. Tables filled the front of the restaurant with families dining together in groups of six and seven. Arian felt a tinge of sadness and loss as he saw these people, though he wasn’t sure why.
Ansley ushered Arian down a hallway that opened up into a large, semicircular bar, full of festive patrons. The bar overlooked an empty stage area with small cocktail tables. Jabari stood before one of the tables, motioning Ansley to sit as they approached. Ansley and Jabari sat opposite of one another, leaving Arian to take the lone seat facing the stage.
Once they were seated, two nondescript, dark-skinned servers brought water. The rest of the stage area remained empty. Music played over a speaker in the background, the style and language of which Arian had never heard. It seemed up-tempo, with what sounded like guitars and steel drums. All in all, he found it to be pleasing. Arian’s disappointment with the water was evident by the look on his face.
“Don’t worry, kid. I don’t plan on drinking water either. We will have drinks soon enough.” Ansley smiled reassuringly. Jabari raised his hand to signal the waitress. Arian’s jaw dropped as an elegant woman with long black hair, a tall, shapely body, and olive skin appeared.
Before he could stop himself, Arian blurted out, “If your name is as beautiful as you, I must know it now.” Ansley erupted in laughter and Jabari lifted an eyebrow.
With more grace than Arian would have expected from a Natural Born server, she replied, “My name is Daniela.” Her thick accent drove Arian crazy. “I see you have met my husband, Jabari.” Arian slunk in his chair, unable to meet the gaze of Jabari, who mocking stared him down before bursting out in laughter as well.
“It’s all good, dog,” Jabari said. “My girl is hot.”
Daniela squeezed Arian’s shoulder and whispered for the entire table to hear, “My husband’s bark is bigger than his bite.” This drew a snicker from Ansley and a frown from Jabari. She pretended to not notice her perturbed husband. “I know this is your first time in our wonderful city, so let me suggest what Ansley and Jabari tend to order. Our famous Desert Snake shot to start.”
“That would be wonderful,” Arian replied, his cheeks still hot with blood.
“Give us a couple of large ales too, baby. We are thirsty from our trip,” shouted Jabari after her.
“You’re always thirsty,” was her only reply as she disappeared behind the bar.
“Desert Snake?” asked Arian.
“It’s good,” reassured Ansley. “It is booze, you know.”
Daniela reappeared with the ales and three Desert Snake shots on a tray. Placing them in front of the three men, she leaned over to Jabari, whispering, “Pace yourself, darling.”
Jabari chuckled. “Get out of here, woman.” His affection for her was clear.
Ansley was the first to grab his glass and raise it. “I raise a toast to my only two friends, who both happen to be twenty-eight years old. May you each live many more than that.”
The three men drained the shots, Arian choking from the high proof.
“Wait,” he said between coughs, “you’re the same age as me?”
“Does that surprise you?” asked Ansley.
“No. I don’t know. I just assumed he was older.”
“Of course you do,” Ansley said. “You stopped aging at twenty-two. Our big friend, however, has been in direct sunlight his entire life and left to the elements. We all take these drinks together, as I have for hundreds of years, yet I assure you, only Jabari is in danger of an early grave from its poison. Fifty years from now you will still be a young professor in the Institute and this man, a physical specimen to behold, will be wasted away, old and dying. Do you think this is fair, Arian?”
Arian shifted in his chair and grabbed his ale. Jabari spoke before he had a chance.
“That sucks, dog. You’re depressing me, Ansley.”
“Still, Arian,” continued Ansley, “with all of your advantages, do you feel secure? Suppose Jabari wanted to reach across this table and snap both our necks. Would we be able to stop him?”
Looking across the table, Arian felt real fear. Jabari only shook his head and looked down, as if embarrassed.
“Well, if he won’t answer, then I will,” continued Ansley. “He could kill you and me with ease. Yet despite all of his advantages, he will die, soon in our years, likely from these drinks we have before us, and you will live on forever. Again, I ask, does that seem fair?”
Arian stared into his glass.
“Why do you think it is that he doesn’t kill us both? He should. His people have been abandoned by the rich and powerful and left to die outside our domes, yet they thrive without us. We have discovered the secret to eternal life and locked it away from the rest of the world, and yet he harbors us no ill will. To you, he is merely entertainment, but I assure you, he is so much more than that. Why do you think that is?”
And at once Arian knew, and before he could stop himself, he blurted out, “Because he’s happy.”
“An interesting thought,” said Ansley. “Are you happy, Jabari?”
“Who me? Hell yeah I’m happy, dog. Have you seen my girl?” Jabari chugged his ale and slammed the empty glass down onto the table, smiling.
“Are you happy, Arian?” asked Ansley, his gaze penetrating.
Thinking for a moment, Arian laughed and chugged his own ale. Slamming his glass on the table next to Jabari’s, he looked at Ansley. “I see what you’re trying to do, and it is a ridiculous premise. Happiness is a meaningless term and unquantifiable. A man is born with a certain disposition and no environmental influences can change that. I am a Nephite, a professor of the Institute, and I love my work. That is enough for any man. And regarding love, I have an eternity to find it, and when I do, I will not lose her as you did.”
The comment stung Ansley and his cheeks rose to a warm shade of crimson. Even Jabari seemed uncomfortable. Arian instantly regretted the insult.
Drawing close, Ansley spoke in a low tone, venom in his voice, “I assure you, kid, I have never, for a single instant, lost her. She is always with me.” He turned and ordered three more Desert Snake shots and three more ales. The stage area was beginning to fill up and the dull drone of an expectant crowd filled the area. Ansley excused himself to the restroom. Jabari leaned forward to Arian when he was gone.
“That was cold, dog. That was your own mother you just called out.”
“Drop the sentimental garbage. I didn’t know her and neither did you.”
Jabari leaned his large body back in the chair and eyed Arian, judging him with his viper-like eyes.
“It’s true that I didn’t know your mother. But my people,” and he motioned at the other patrons around the restaurant, “they knew her well. It was she and Ansley that built the turbines that provide our electrical power. It was she who designed the irrigation system that has allowed us our independence from your world. Your mother is well regarded here. And let’s not forget Arian, one man out, one man in. If your mother never dies then you are never born. I may be your entertainment, but I have seen much more of the world than you.”
They sat in silence and drank their refreshed ales. The front of the stage was full now, and Arian watched the primitive band set up their percussion instruments and amplifiers. He was different from most scientists and had always been drawn to art and music. He was excited to hear the band play. Ansley’s return disrupted his thoughts. In a gesture of contrition, Arian offered a cigarette, a vice he had taken up since meeting the old Professor. As he went to light it, Jabari grabbed it from his hand.
“They don’t smoke inside here,” said Ansley. “Lung cancer and emphysema. When you don’t have nanocyte treatments, cigarette smoke can be quite harmful. Let’s go outside.” Jabari released his hand and nodded to Ansley, who guided Arian back through the restaurant and outside.
As they exited the curtained doorway, dusk was breaking over the city. The yellow day sun was settling behind the cliff face as the red night sun broke the opposite horizon. The receding light from the day sun created a strange but beautiful shadow effect across the waterfall. Blue halogen lamps lit the city. Arian attempted to light his cigarette, yet the high desert winds kept snuffing out the flame.
“Here,” said Ansley, cuffing his hand around Arian’s lighter. “You have to block the wind. We aren’t in the dome anymore.” Lighting his own, Ansley leaned back against the wall on one foot, studying Arian, waiting for him to speak. After a moment, Arian did.
“So you and my mother built this place together?” he asked.
“We did.”
“Why?”
“Why not?”
“You had everything in the dome. Why would you risk it to come out here?”
“I think it would be difficult for one of your upbringing to understand why we did this. I think it will be even more difficult for me to explain why I brought you out here. But I guess now is as good a time as any for me to make an attempt.”
“Well,” responded Arian, “you clearly think me incapable of understanding you, yet here I am.” He took a long drawl off his cigarette. “I’m listening.”
Ansley took a deep breath, looking to the sky for inspiration before beginning.
“Imagine for a moment a world where everyone is born equal. All have the same opportunity to thrive or fail. Some may die young. Some may live long inconsequential, yet happy lives. In this world, everyone has the opportunity to become the leader or the villain. This is how the old world was designed by law. Yet there was another factor. Birthright. Imagine that everyone is entered into a lottery to be the leader of the world, yet those born from better families had more entries in the drawing. Everyone strove, and everyone hoped, and sometimes, the underdog won that lottery against all odds. But no matter how high a man rose or how low a man fell, their paths always converged on that dark road we know as death.
“Now imagine that there is a worldwide economic collapse that only those with the most influence can survive. But they don’t merely survive. Prices are low, and they are the only ones with money. They buy up more and more, and their influence increases exponentially. Now, although the law still decrees everyone is equal, the lottery is severely skewed toward those with money, and the cycle continues, growing harsher toward those with no birthrights every pass. This is what happened during my time. The wealth became so concentrated in private hands that the elite rivaled the worldwide governments, and since they owned the private companies that supplied the militaries of the world, the food for the world, and the energy that powered the world, they now had the governments of the world subjugated to their interests.
“The top four companies in the world called a conference in a city that used to be called Patagonia. They controlled all the important economic sectors except for one. Science. That had always been a government-funded enterprise. The four heads decided at that point to hold the economy hostage unless they could gain control of the government’s only trump card. Nanosoft.”
“But I thought Nanosoft was the pre-cursor to our modern day Institute?” interrupted Arian.
“Precisely,” answered Ansley, pleased. “But that was not its intended function. Nanosoft was a company that subsisted almost entirely on donations, both private and from governments worldwide. Its motivations were pure, and it was devoted to wiping out diseases that had plagued mankind since its inception and alleviating poverty worldwide. John J. Aster, Anabelle’s father, amassed one of the world’s largest fortunes and devoted it to philanthropy. With Nanosoft, he assembled the greatest collection of minds the world had ever seen, your mother, father, and myself included.”
“And I am not going to be humble about it, kid. We created wonderful things, the most important of which was your mother and Richard’s work on nanocyte technology. We had it in our hands, Arian, the gift of eternal life, a way to stop all pain and suffering, and we were prepared to share it with the world.”
“So what happened? How did we end up here?” asked Arian, puzzled.
“The Patagonia Agreement happened.”
“The Patagonia Agreement?”
“As I said, the heads of the four most powerful corporations in the world met in Patagonia. No one really knows the details of what occurred at this meeting, but we do know the result. You may recognize the participants of this meeting. Marco Luccio was the chairman of the World Bank and the largest financier in the world. Paulo Dominiccio owned all rights to the mineral mines and refineries on the Ursula moon. This is the source of nearly all the world’s energy not created by coal, and much cleaner as well. Dominiccio was a very powerful man. And how do you transport all this energy from the Ursula moon back to our planet? That’s where Pierre de Medici made his fortune, specializing in space transport. He had a monopoly on the transportation industry. I have seen you flying around Capitol City on his patented hawks. The most powerful man of them all, Vladymir Romanov, owned Allied Defense Systems. He designed, built, and supplied all of the world’s militaries with weapons ranging from bullets to ballistic missiles. Of course, he kept his more cutting edge designs to himself for his own private mercenary armies.”
“How can that be? You’re saying that the Overseers made a pact to deny eternal life to the world?” interjected Arian.
“I’m saying the men who would become the Overseers met and made a pact to consolidate their power,” replied Ansley, his patience waning. The worldwide economy was in shambles. There were food shortages, riots, and protests. The middle class fell into poverty and voiced their concerns over the disproportionate concentrations of wealth. The four entered into an agreement to protect themselves from the masses.” Ansley paused, pondering the orange glow at the end of his cigarette. There was a look in his eye, not of sadness, but of resignation.
“They bought all the land in Patagonia and built an impenetrable city from which they could safely continue to wield their power and run their companies,” Ansley continued. “This was the first domed city. Marco Luccio financed the project, Paulo Dominiccio provided the energy to run the self-contained ecosystem, and Vladymir Romanov created a state of the art defense system, which included a newly discovered polymer that could withstand a 2-megaton nuclear blast. It is this polymer that covers Capitol City. In case you were wondering, you live in a land that used be known as Patagonia.”
Arian felt sick to his stomach. They never studied the history of how Arameus was created at the Institute. There were passing mentions of how the Overseers had brought them from a world of chaotic riots to a world of security, but that was as far as it went. This all seemed so different. Separating themselves from the less fortunate seemed callous.
“You would be killed for sharing this knowledge with me,” observed Arian.
“Trust me, they have tried. It turns out that Ansley Brightmore is a greater adversary than they expected. But they can’t be seen by Nephites to be murdering their citizens to maintain power, so they created the Centauri as a front to systematically remove those of us who were here from the beginning, cleansing Arameus of all citizens not born in their hatcheries. In this way, they will maintain absolute control of the myth surrounding them. I’m afraid your mother was a victim of one of their cleansings.”
Arian’s stomach dropped, and he felt a deep rage overtake him. How could the empire murder its citizens? He felt as if his perfect world was crumbling before him and being replaced by something dark and ugly.
“How does Nanosoft fit into all of this?” he asked. “How is it that the nanocyte treatments were not shared with the world?”
Ansley stubbed out his cigarette before replying. “Being among the most powerful and richest men on the planet, they had representatives on the board at Nanosoft. When news came to them of the breakthroughs in nanocyte technology, they wanted to control it. Nanosoft was struggling with an internal ethical debate on how to utilize the treatments. Curing major diseases was a no-brainer, but should they use them to stop aging? It was a radical thought to consider. How would a world function if its citizens didn’t age? How would that affect the way we reproduce? It would lead to overpopulation and demand more resources. And what was to be done with the oldest members of society? Could we as scientists overthrow the entire natural order?” He raised his eyebrows.
“However, the Overseers were already advanced in their years and had no time for such debates. Moreover, a population of forever young and healthy members would threaten their power and attempts to create a lasting hold on the world’s wealth. They needed the treatments for themselves, and they needed to control the treatments for their survival. When the board decided to use nanocyte treatments only for gravely ill children, the Patagonia Four decided to act. It is not known how they were able to get John Aster to resign as chair of Nanosoft, but many believe it was by kidnapping his beloved only child, Anabelle. She was three years old. She and her father have resided in Patagonia, now Capitol City, ever since. A series of unexplained murders took care of the rest of the board, and Marco Luccio took over as chair of Nanosoft.”
“So they began taking the treatments themselves?” Arian asked.
“The nanocyte treatments were never made public, but the Overseers and those in their inner circle received them. All Nanosoft labs were moved to Patagonia, along with their scientists and it was re-named the Institute. To maintain the flow of the nanocytes and other technologies that they now monopolized, they had to provide the staff scientists with treatments as well. Your mother and I were among the first to receive them.”
Ansley pulled out two cigarettes and offered one to Arian. “You look like you need this.”
Arian nodded, lighting his cigarette, as Ansley spun the story of the past. With each revelation, his own world was torn down, replaced by a devastating new scenario. Mesmerized, he hung on every word from the old Professor, who continued with increasing enthusiasm.
“As it became apparent to the rest of the world what was happening in Patagonia, the richest members of society turned over all their wealth and land holdings to the four men who built the city in exchange for the nanocyte treatments. None were permitted the treatments unless they agreed to reside within the dome. The power and wealth of the entire world shifted to Patagonia, and given the large wealth disparity, governments were no longer solvent and began to collapse, one by one, under the strain of debt. As this continued over many years, the Overseers began to collect the best and brightest of the outside world to add to the diaspora of humanity they were creating. Artists, engineers, models, all deemed worthy were collected and offered eternal youth within the city.
“Outside the dome, there was a power vacuum, and society fell into a feudal state, with the Overseers owning most of the land and factories of the world. They appointed bosses to run their interests in the various regions, often with brutality and violence. Domed cities were constructed around the world, each governed by the new Capitol City. Child bearing was limited due to spatial constraints, a law enforced through a simple immunization administered upon entering the dome.
“DNA samples were taken of each new citizen of the domes. When “unfortunate accidents” occurred, and I assure you, there were many, children were engineered from combinations of this DNA and the zygotes were implanted in the Natural Born foster mothers who give birth in the hatcheries. Actually, it was at this point that the term “Natural Born” came into existence. People born the old way were the Natural Born and those engineered within our domes were Nephites. The creation of the two classes was the true birth of Arameus. As years turned to decades, those outside the domes who remembered the past died, and our current system remained in place.”
Arian was silent as he finished his cigarette and looked out over the free city before him.
“And places like this?” he asked.
“Oh, there are many, I’m sure,” responded Ansley. “People are resilient and find a way to survive and flourish. These free cities are mostly left alone and ignored by the government as they are no threat.”
“If you had the technology for nanocytes, why not give it to the world?” asked Arian.
“It isn’t that simple. We had the knowledge, but no access to resources on our own. The Overseers control everything. However, you will find that we have not been idle. Your mother and I began to build something special here, which I hope to show you if you decide to pledge your loyalty to our cause.”
Arian needed only seconds to consider.
“My curiosity about what you’re up to alone is enough for me to commit to your cause. Looks like I’m joining the Centauri.” Against his will, his mind went to Kaiya. He was close to fulfilling her original request.
“That will have to be enough for me to trust you,” answered Ansley, giving Arian a curious look. “Let’s go in. You have to see this guitar player.”
As they re-entered the restaurant, Arian’s head was spinning with a thousand different thoughts. The one thought that repeated most often was that he was now part of some type of revolution. While the idea of treason was an uncomfortable subject for him, the idea of being a revolutionary held a certain excitement that he just couldn’t shake. He had never done anything to stray from the path that the governing bodies of Arameus had set before him, and because of that, he had always felt that his life was missing something.
Still, he had no idea what this revolution was. All Arian knew of the Centauri was that they killed innocent people in bombings. But if Ansley was correct, and it had been the Overseers the entire time, then what would be the goal of Ansley’s Centauri?
His thoughts went to Kaiya. He was in love with her. For whom was he truly an agent? He had sworn allegiance to Ansley, but was that another ruse to infiltrate the cell on behalf of Kaiya? It hadn’t felt like that. He meant what he said to Ansley. If the Overseers murdered his mother, he could no longer serve them in good conscience.
He was drawn from his thoughts by a hard slap on the back from Ansley.
“Kid, snap out of it. I know that was a lot to take in, but we are finished with work for the night. B.B. Borkar is playing. Relax.”
Arian noticed for the first time the scenes taking place around him. Hundreds of colorfully dressed Natural Born of various races stood shoulder to shoulder in the area surrounding the bar, dancing and cheering. The air was filled with the sweetest sounds Arian had ever heard as drums and horns pounded out bluesy rhythms while a lead guitar hit just the right notes to send chills down his spine. Ansley grabbed his arm and ushered him past the crowds back to the now occupied tables before the stage, finding Jabari sitting by himself, drunker than he had been when they left him.
At the stage, Arian found the source of the guitar. It was the most aged human he had seen in person. Ansley was the oldest human he knew, but appeared to be twenty-four. This man was large and overweight and his skin sagged, forming deep crevices in his face. He was also the darkest man Arian had ever seen in person. He had the same skin tone as Habimana Muteteli, the special representative of the Natural Born. He was wearing a suit made of sequenced material, the lights above reflecting the entire spectrum off him. He sat in a chair at the front of the stage leaning back with a beautifully adorned guitar resting on his lap. His giant foot tapped along with the beat, leading the band.
Then he began to sing. It was his voice that took Arian’s breath away. Filled with the rasp and hurts of a thousand lifetimes, he belted out deep from within his stomach the struggles that all the men who occupy this world, no matter how high or low, have in common. His voice made Arian feel like he was a member of this crowd, as if they were all equals.
“This is fucking amazing,” he screamed to his companions at the table.
“Yeeaaah,” yelled Jabari. “I think our boy likes the blues.”
“Why do we not have this music in Capitol City?” he said in Ansley’s ear.
Laughing, Ansley slapped him on the back and replied, “I don’t think the Overseers were ever big fans of the music of the lower class. Art like this tended to spawn revolution in centuries past. It tends to make those who are supposed to feel downtrodden get a little more pep in their step and realize they aren’t alone.”
“Well, I feel like I could take over the damn world right now. Let’s get some drinks!”
“Yeah, yeah, now he’s talking,” yelled Jabari, slamming his fist on the table. “Yo baby, get us another round of ales and Desert Snakes,” he screamed across the floor to Daniela.
She frowned at him, motioning in a way that stated, “Get them yourself.”
“I’ll be right back, dog,” said Jabari, jumping up and rushing to the bar.
Ansley and Arian were content to sit and enjoy the music. Arian relaxed and allowed his mind to rest, entranced by the spectacle before him. The music was so raw and open and free. It was everything that he wished he could be. When the song ended, the crowd, including Arian, erupted in applause. As the cheering died down and the musicians tuned their instruments, he leaned over to Ansley.
“Why does Jabari keep calling us ‘dog’? Is it some sort of insult against Nephites?”
Ansley waved him off. “You need to stop being so sensitive. It’s a slang term popular in the free cities. It’s like saying ‘buddy’.”
Before Arian could respond, his shoulder was grabbed firmly from behind. Looking up, he saw a menacing man towering over him. He had a thick, knotted beard and a deep scar that ran from above where his left eye should have been, down through the socket and onto his cheek. In his good eye, Arian could see that this man meant him nothing but harm.
“What business does a Nephite have in Beladero? You aren’t in your fucking dome now, are you? Why shouldn’t I break your unnatural little neck?”
Ansley leaned forward and said, “Friend, he is traveling with me.”
“Stay out of this, Ansley,” glowered the man. “We tolerate you in Beladero on account of what you’ve done. Don’t confuse that with acceptance.”
Arian, trying to make peace, looked up and said, “Dog, we have no problems between us.”
“Dog?” The man smirked, turning to the crowd forming around them and announcing, “This little Nephite just called me ‘dog’.” He clenched his giant fist and hurled it toward Arian’s face. Arian closed his eyes in anticipation as he heard the shattering of glass around him. The blow never landed. Opening his eyes he saw that Jabari had caught the approaching fist in mid-air, stopping it with ease. Their tray of drinks was spread about floor. Jabari’s expression was contorted with rage as he removed the hand from Arian’s shoulder and, whirling the man around, gave him an aggressive shove in the back. The man stumbled five steps, almost falling into another table. Turning back to Jabari defiantly, he was met with the superior man’s commanding baritone.
“Keep walking, dog.”
Still reluctant, the man turned and slunk off a few steps. He stopped and turned, as if to say something else.
“I said keep walking!” Jabari rushed at him, but Daniela appeared out of nowhere and stepped in between. The man exited the stage area and Daniela ushered Jabari back to the table.
“I will get you more drinks, baby, and someone to clean this up. You just sit here and I don’t want to see you fighting with anyone.” She leaned down and kissed his cheek before walking around the table and placing a gentle hand on Arian, massaging the shoulder the man had just been squeezing.
“I apologize, honey. Some people have no manners. You won’t have any more problems tonight. Relax and enjoy yourself.”
Arian didn’t think that this would be possible, but after a few assurances from Jabari, a few more Desert Snake shots, and a few more songs from B.B., his head was foggy and his heart was happy again. The rest of the night was spent drinking and hearing stories from Jabari’s life. All things considered, it turned out to be a fantastic and informative evening. As the concert drew to a close and lights turned on overhead, Arian knew he was drunk. Ansley reached over and grabbed his arm.
“Come on, my boy. Let’s go sleep this off. Jabari will show you to your room for the next few nights.”
“My room?” protested Arian. “We aren’t going home?”
“We are home, at least for a few days,” replied Ansley. “The Spring Festival begins in the morning in the Capitol. No one will expect you anywhere for a week. I didn’t choose this time by accident. Our qubits are in the city. As far as the powers that be are concerned, so are we. Besides, I haven’t shown you anything of my plans. Tomorrow I’m going to blow your mind.”
Too drunk to protest, Arian lumbered off behind Jabari, wondering what adventures a new day would bring.