Chapter Twenty Six–THE BOND
Face and Yu were both stumped. That was as abnormal as the substance on the scarf.
Yu’s thought vein was pulsing triple time. “We need help.”
Face didn’t even pause to nod his assent. He spoke his thoughts out loud for Yu’s benefit, although he could have addressed the SICs silently. “We need to use your secure wide network of crystal buffers to evaluate traces on the scarf.”
Before they answered, they had already begun analysis. “We place ourselves fully at your service.”
Yu acknowledged the difficulties. “Identifying a masked bio-material is a specialty beyond me.”
Face materialized a score of clan members. They appeared next to Yu as soon as Face thought of them. “They are experts on coded bio-material.”
“I hope they are as fast as they are proficient.”
“We have already assimilated your data.” The SICs spoke as one.
“That was fast.” Yu felt optimistic. “Good thing too, we don’t have much time left.”
The SIC’s collective voice echoed. “Be warned. The last similar analysis we did was a 98 point 9914444444444 percent match but it took 46 point 4444444444 hours to complete.”
Yu wasted no time mourning the possibilities. Instead, she immediately activated her Vid-com.
--
Ari and Celarius bathed in the visual sounds of whale rhapsodies. Ari had paired closer with Celarius by sharing the whales’ symphony of resurrection. The father and son were completely immersed.
When a Vid-com call interrupted, Celarius noted Ari’s rapture. “This music is your true passion. Your father must be proud. Artistic vision is a rarity.”
“Sometimes I wonder what my place is in the universe. It’s clear that my father wants footprints more solid than your pyramid’s rocks engraved with an ancestral pointer toward the future. Music is a fringe activity to him.”
Ari turned to greet Yu as her image materialized. “This Vid-com isn’t secure.”
“You may want to hear this in person anyway.”
“I’ll be right down.”
--
Ari and Celarius unceremoniously entered the newly-created lab.
Ari didn’t want to believe what he heard. “Two days before solid information about the scarf can be revealed?”
They were counting down. An understanding as clear and precise as it was subliminal circulated between them. The Dark Heart would hit in four days. The clock flashed final finite bits of pulsed time.
“Then we have two days to look elsewhere.” Ari turned abruptly to Celarius. “May I have permission to use your light-ship? I must investigate the pictographs.”
“I can’t imagine they’re related to Yoris. But I’ll do anything to help.” From a device he removed from his pocket, Celarius accessed a hologram file and gestured to the deepest recess of the landing pyramid. “Those are the exact coordinates where I sealed the ancient opening.”
--
Ari used the SES to create a privacy niche. The instant it was complete, he Vid-comed Nor. “Secure channel - priority prime.” Ari felt the lingering sensory memory of Celarius’ hand on his back as he looked into Nor’s remote eyes. “Time is running out.”
“You called to tell me that?” Nor was barely restrained.
“Obviously not. Our investigation leads to the Red Planet and we know we must hurry. During the next 18 hours, my crew and I will be under Vid-com silence. I’ll COM you with the results from lab tests and our Red Planet inquiry when we return here.”
Ari signed off quickly, not wanting to deal with Nor’s coldness. He had good reason to be abrupt and took full advantage of the situation to absent himself.
As the privacy walls dissolved around him, he left the SES lab. Knowing it would work on its own, Ari joined Yu and Face. They walked into the living arena to bid Yanna farewell. She was crying within a visual of her son and daughter created by her thoughts. She was oblivious to their presence.
Face finally spoke. “Your SES frequencies are back to normal.”
Discomfited by her grief, Yu reassured her. “Our investigation is ongoing. We won’t give up.”
Ari added, “We’ll all be back from the Red Planet within 20 hours.”
“Red Planet?” Yanna asked, finally connecting with them. “You’re leaving me again! Now? In the middle of the night?”
Although she had shot the words at Celarius, he replied with a calming voice. He let her defer thought of their situation. “I am staying, but they must go. I’ll explain everything later.” A silent communication passed among them. As one, Ari, Yu, and Face rose, eager to get underway. The night had fled. Yanna had lost track of time. Under her golden dome, she had not noticed the dawn. She unexpectedly leapt up and hugged each one tightly.
Celarius shook hands with Yu and Face. He gave a firmer hand shake and eye contact to Ari that was filled with warmth.
As the friends approached Celarius’s craft, Face spoke with reservation. “So, now we’re quasi-archeologists.”
“Do you have a better idea?” Ari asked.
“I just wonder if there’s enough time. If the technology is foolproof enough to work on its own. If we are smart enough to use both wisely.” Face glowed.
“We may not have time. And technology has failed in the past. So has our wisdom.” Ari’s determination momentarily failed under the barrage of haunting questions. “I hope you can count on me.”