The Constant Star (24)

THE STORY SO FAR

Addy is a girl about Siff’s age with short cut hair, Wrench a greasy twenty-ish year old with tools all over her filthy coveralls, Conner has a natural smirk on his young face that screams mischief. Pint is leaning back against his chair as he raises a mug in greeting, and Issel…Issel is the child she saved the other day. He smiles sheepishly at her then shyly turns his head away, “Holy ski-I mean, are you okay?”

Karl lets out a hearty laugh, “Don’t worry, I reckon he’s heard worse language before now.”

Issel nods shyly and smiles before returning to his breakfast. Siff looks down to her plate and sees an apple, some cereal, a bowl of milk, and a cup of water. She grabs the apple and takes a bite, the crisp taste fills her senses and her stomach growls loudly for more, “Welcome to the Lower Levels, Siff. We appreciate you being here.”

“Thanks.” Siff tries to control her hunger and actually pay attention to something other than the food on her plate, “So what kind of things do you guys do for fun?”

“Fun? I suppose that gets to be an option now, doesn’t it? Thanks to you. Hmmmm, I think I’d like to explore planets. Y’know, just see new things and learn, and appreciate the scenery. That kinda stuff. How about you Addy? You get to do anything, what would it be?”

Addy looks straight into Siff’s eyes, “Kill every mother fucker who ever hurt me or my family.”

“Okay, okay. I understand the feeling, but try to think of something nice okay.”

“Sure sounds nice to me,” she leans back, “sounds like a fairy tale.”

“Okay, moving on. Wrench?”

“I dunno. Never really thought about it. Rest on a beach someplace I suppose. Taste some real good food, meet some real good guys. Get real good laid.” Siff blushes but the others laugh. Even Issel lets out a chuckle.

“I wanna get in on those VR games you guys have up top.” Conner’s eyes light up, “Get to have adventures wherever I want, however I want. I can’t wait to try them out!”

“Sounds good! What are they like, Siff?”

“Yeah they are a lot of fun. I hope we get to play together soon.”

“How about you Pint?”

Pint rubs his chin for a few seconds, staring into the distance, “I like the idea of finding a quiet place to rest. No-one demanding anything from me; no responsibilities for a while; just relax.”

“Issel? How about you, kiddo?”

“I want to play, I guess. Learn games the other kids know. That kinda stuff.”

It is in this moment Siff realizes these people have not been allowed rest their entire lives. They have been forced to work and had their bodies altered to make them work harder. She can’t help but see Bellerophon in Karl’s mannerisms, and gets to thinking what her best friend would make of all this: where she has ended up. Siff feels her heart drop at the contrast to her own life. She smiles in shame as the conversation continues around her: people being allowed to dream for the first time in their lives, joking about the hopes they now start daring to have. She finishes her meal and listens some more before Macy makes her way to the table to say hi: her two bodyguards with her as usual. When her friend sits down, Siff looks at her with barely held-back tears, “Macy, I need to talk to you. Now.”

“Sure thing, Siff. This way.”

They get up and leave the cafeteria, head into a hallway and into a private room. It is there that Siff lets the tears out, “What the hell, Macy! What are you doing? I didn’t ask for any of this! The deal was I get you that info and you get me into the Chosen Ones! You’re using me as some kind of symbol of this rebellion, and I don’t want it!”

“Look. Siff-“

“No! You look! You put the lives of those captives in my hands. You used my actions to inspire your people. You made them think I’m some kind of freedom fighter. And now you’re trying to get me involved in this…whatever this is!”

“Siff-“

“I don’t want any of this! I just want to be in a better place. Where I can be myself.”

“Siff! Look at yourself! Remember what you’ve done over such a short period of time. You saw injustice and stood up against it when no-one else would. You risked all your comforts and even your life when you sent us that data. You spared the lives of those who hurt you. And now you’re finding yourself feeling for those who have been suffering this whole time.

“Look. Siff. It’s not me that’s doing this to you. It’s you. It’s your own heart that’s breaking for these people. And it’s your own struggle because you have empathy. Because you care. I shared these things with you because I was hoping you would join us. I was hoping you would have a new dream with the rise of my people. I was hoping you would choose to make them your people. If you still want to disappear with the Chosen Ones I can get you in, but the struggle you have is within yourself, not with me.”

“You promised…we made a deal…”

“Yes, we did. And it is still on the table. But a new option is here for you as well, if you want it. I hope you want it.”

“I just can’t…I don’t know. I gave up everything for my hopes to come true.”

“Take some time. Think about it. Let me know. Things are about to ramp up here, so you aren’t going to have long to decide. Siff, I have a meeting: I have to go. Think about it. We’d love to have you as one of us.”

Macy opens the door and heads out. Siff’s mind is filled with conflicting thoughts, her heart is warring with itself. She also leaves the room and heads to the stairs. She

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