The Aurora (Aurora Saga, Book 1) (33 page)

The next day, James visited Londuo in the convalescence ward on Brinoli. There were only a few people still in their seatras. Adjacent to the rest ward was a large rectangular room, where there were groups of people sitting with patients. James entered and looked impatiently around.

Londuo was sitting talking to Antaio, in the far corner of the room alongside an externally sloping wall, which had a window across its entire width. The morning light shone brightly through it. When she saw James, she rose from her seat and walked over to him. She was wearing a dressing gown and he noticed the bracelet he had given to her on her wrist. Antaio glanced around.

‘Hi,’ Londuo said, looking very pleased to see him.

‘How are you feeling?’ James asked.

‘Much better,’ she replied and kissed him. ‘You’ve just missed Gulino and Frasin.’

‘How is Frasin?’ James asked.

‘She’s fine and already flying her new fighter,’ Londuo said.

Antaio walked over to join them.

‘Hello, James. No ill effects from last night I hope.’

‘No. I was fine,’ James replied.

Londuo looked curious.

‘I met Antaio in a bar last night,’ James added, seeing Londuo was about to ask. ‘We had a few drinks of... Antaio what was that drink?’

‘Kalti ginom,’ Antaio said.

‘That’s one of the strongest. Antaio! James hasn’t had any of those before,’ she said in a concerned voice.

‘As you can tell, she’s almost back to her old self,’ Antaio said.

‘Don’t know whether that’s good or bad,’ James replied cheekily.

Londuo smiled back, but said nothing.

‘Londuo was showing us her new bracelet,’ Antaio said.

His komkey suddenly started to bleep, so he pressed a button on its top.

‘I’m afraid I have to get back to security.’

‘They’ve all been admiring it,’ Londuo added.

She showed it to James.

‘I told you last night, you shouldn’t be so worried about her, James. Londuo can definitely look after herself,’ Antaio said. ‘I must go now.’

‘Thanks, Antaio,’ Londuo said and kissed him on the cheek.

‘Don’t forget that game of pinsop tonight, James,’ Antaio said, before he walked away.

‘Game of pinsop?’ Londuo said. ‘I didn’t know you could play!’

‘I can’t,’ James replied. ‘Antaio was going to try to show me tonight, but I’m not sure.’

‘Go on, he’s very good. You’ll have no problems learning it and it will do you good to relax a bit. Just be careful of the kalti ginom.’

‘I need to discuss something with you, Londuo,’ James said quietly.

‘Let’s sit back over there,’ Londuo said, as she turned.

James caught hold of her hand.

‘Londuo, I need to speak with you alone. Please!’

‘We’ll try the main corridor,’ Londuo said, looking worried. ‘There’re often vacant rooms.’

The corridor had small rooms on each side. Londuo looked inside each as they walked past.

‘Here,’ Londuo said, entering one of the rooms. ‘We’ll have more privacy in here.’

The room was laid out like a very small office. A desk was the only visible furniture with a console positioned centrally on it. James pulled two chairs out from the wall adjacent to the door and placed them alongside the desk. They sat down.

‘What’s wrong, James?’ Londuo asked.

‘Londuo, you shouldn’t tell people why I gave you the bracelet.’

‘It was only Frasin, Gulino and Antaio. They’re my friends, James.’

‘I know, but they could each tell three more people and so on. Then everyone will know!’

‘I’m sorry, James. I didn’t think it really mattered.’

‘I’m probably being a bit paranoid,’ James replied. ‘It’s… just… I’m having some doubts over Antaio.’

‘I’ve known Antaio a long time. What’s troubling you?’

‘He’s been asking a lot of questions about the
Aurora
recently, and Kalrea’s not sure about him either; that’s all.’

‘I’m sure he’s just being curious, like anyone else would be. After all, it’s a completely unknown ship to most of us.’

‘I know, but he also seems be to turning up more these last few days.’

‘I’m sure it’s just a coincidence.’

James nodded.

‘You’re probably right, but I think I’m still going to mention it to Milonri.’

He paused a moment
.

‘Londuo… I think I may have something that belongs to you.’

James removed the red data cartridge from his pocket.

Londuo recognised it instantly and asked,

‘How did you get my diary?’

She put her hand in her dressing gown pocket and felt that her diary was still there. She pulled it out.

‘But… I have it here. Let me see that!’

James passed the data cartridge to her. She looked at it closely.

‘It’s identical to mine. There’s even the mark where a Treitan shot me.’

James’ expression changed.

‘You never told me you were shot!’

‘It was in that battle with the Treitans I told you about. I didn’t want you to worry.’

Changing topic back to the diary, she said,

‘There’s no name on your cartridge.’

‘I know, I think someone deliberately erased it. In fact, I think you erased it, Londuo.’

‘What do you mean? It can’t be mine!’

‘But look at it, Londuo. It’s identical to yours. What are the chances of two data cartridges being damaged in exactly the same way like that?’

‘How can it be mine? It must be just a coincidence.’

‘Just a coincidence! Everything can’t just be a coincidence!’

Londuo looked at both data cartridges closely and then up at the console.

‘All right, if it’s mine, then I’ll be able to see what’s on it, won’t I?’

‘Londuo, that diary has been damaged. When Kalrea tried to read it, it caused an explosion onboard the
Aurora
. She said it had given off a temporal charge or something like that. Kalrea managed to get the data but not the encryption keys. Londuo, I think it’s from the future.’

She looked at James.

‘That’s impossible. How can it be from the future?’

‘Look, Kalrea has analysed it. She says it’s from the future. We both know Kalrea cannot be wrong.’

‘Where did you get it from?’

‘You’ll never believe me.’

‘James! If you want me to believe you, tell me where you got it.’

‘All right then! I found this diary in a box my mother gave me back on Earth, but Kalrea had no knowledge of it.’

He paused for a moment.

‘Londuo, something strange happened the day my mother died. We had a visitor; an old woman, who I’d never seen before. That old woman was you.’

Londuo looked at him strangely. He could sense she was finding it hard to believe.

‘Londuo, the old woman had your eyes. She even covered the left side of her face to hide the symoi.’

‘This is ludicrous; you’re telling me that I was on Earth... No, that I’m actually on Earth now! And that I’m an old woman! I think one of us is going mad.’

She looked at him.

‘But you do seem very convinced by this,’ she said.

‘Londuo, I am. I really believe this diary is from our future. I think there’s something really important on it; something about our future.’

‘I’m not sure I believe you, James… I mean, what would you think if I’d just told you that? It does seem unbelievable!’

And then looking at the diary from the future, she added,

‘Yet, it does appear to be my diary or a copy of it.’

‘Kalrea’s managed to crack two of the encryption keys, but it could still take her weeks to break the rest to find out what’s on it. She only has very small pieces of data to work on, but the last things she mentioned were death and destruction, Londuo. In the near future.’

‘Look! If what you say is true, then what do you want from me?’ Londuo asked. ‘How can I possibly help?’

‘I need the encryption keys from your diary, Londuo.’

‘But my diary’s very personal.’

‘Londuo, this is so important. Forget what’s on your diary for a moment.’

James could see Londuo was very agitated, almost bordering on being angry.

‘James, you’re not reading my diary!’

‘Look, I don’t need to read your diary. Kalrea just needs the encryption keys. Please!’

‘Okay, but I’m not letting this out of my sight. If Kalrea tells you anything personal from this diary, I’m going to pull her plug!’

‘I’ll make her promise not to reveal anything personal from your diary, all right? Now calm down.’

Londuo nodded and said,

‘Kalrea can access this console; she can read it from here, right?’

‘Not exactly. I’m not in contact with her at the moment, Londuo.’

‘But you must be.’

‘The
Aurora’s
hidden away in a secret location. The place where it’s located is shielded, so Kalrea is unable to transmit a signal outside of that location.’

‘James, I’m not letting you take my diary! End of discussion.’

‘Okay! Okay! Look, I’ll need to speak to Milonri to get you authorised to go there. I’m seeing him tomorrow.’

James learnt over to hold Londuo’s hand.

‘I’m sorry if I’ve upset you. I didn’t mean to.’

‘James, I’m not upset with you. I love you, and that’s why my diary is important to me. It has my inner thoughts of you on it.’

‘I understand. So any idea when you can leave here?’ James asked. ‘I’ve found a few places to eat here on Brinoli which I would like to try.’

Londuo’s head dropped.

‘I’ve had my orders, I leave here tomorrow.’

‘Great—’

‘James, I have to report to the
Lonori
,’ she said, interrupting him.

‘When will I see you again?’

‘It’s only for five days, while we try out some modifications to the fighters.’

‘I’ll speak to Milonri; get you transferred to the
Aurora
. I don’t like those fighters.’

‘James, I can’t believe you just said that. I have to do my job,’ Londuo said.

James smiled half-heartedly.

‘I’m sorry. I just want to spend some time with you.’

Londuo leaned across and held out her other hand. He gripped it gently.

‘Look, I’ll have a couple of hours free each day. I’ll fly down. We can—’

James nodded as their faces edged closer together. Londuo stared into his eyes. They kissed.

She smiled as their faces moved apart.

‘I’ll fly down. I’ll let Kalrea look at the diary—’

They kissed passionately.

Londuo stood up and walked over to the door. She ran her hand over a keypad and there was a click as it locked.

‘There; we’re alone now!’ she said, turning back.

She looked into his eyes and walked back over to him. Her dressing gown fell to the floor. James looked at her, his eyes moved alone her silhouette and he blushed when she caught him looking at her round breasts...