The Persistence of Memories - A Novel of the Mendaihu Universe (58 page)

“We’re holding nothing back, Sheila. I
promise you that.”

“No one's accusing you of that,” Sheila said.
“We just want to know why we’ve been given these roles to play that
none of us are prepared for. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve accepted the
role and I’ll do my best. We weren’t chosen by chance, because of
Denni. We’re a part of her world, and she trusts us. And I'm quite
certain that if you and Ashan are not involved somehow, you at
least know something about it.”

“It was out of our hands as soon as Denysia
awakened the planet,” Kai answered. “She is whom you should ask,
once she gets back. She has gone to talk with Saisshalé, and should
be on her way back now. Once she awakened Gharra, she caused a
ripple effect. What was once something that happened once a
generation in Bridgetown may now happen anywhere and with more
frequency.

“You see, the Season of Embodiment is there
for a reason. It insures that the balance between the Mendaihu and
the Shenaihu remains in place. And for that to happen, certain
movements need to take place. The One, the Dahné, the Elders, all
the way down to the believers and the acolytes.”

She’d purposely goaded Kai into answering,
and this was exactly the answer she’d expected. They didn’t have
any answers at all, other than what had been dictated by Elders.
Did they truly not know what was going to happen next?

“I can’t believe that, Kai. Nothing is ever
set in stone.”

“I am sorry that you doubt me,” she
snarled.

“I don’t doubt you at all. I just don’t
believe that’s the full story. Not even close. I thought this had
something to do with some mystical, spiritual thing that we had to
go through, but I was wrong.
Sa’im
nyhnd’aladh if I offended
you, but from now on, Nick and I are not a part of whatever the
hell is going on. We'll watch, we'll observe, just like the good
Mendaihu that we are, but we're
not
taking part in any war
simply because it’s prophecy. We refuse. We’re here to break this
damn cycle once and for all.”

Kai did not respond. Sheila could only guess
as to what was going on in her head right now, surprised by her
outburst and dismayed by her vow. Sheila felt a bit guilty for
speaking for Nick, but things had gone far enough.

“Are we at an understanding?”

“Yes,” Kai said quietly. There was deep
trouble in her voice.

“Good.”

“Thank you,” Kai said, though it clearly
lacked conviction, and disconnected.

She dropped the phone down on her desk and
rubbed at her eyes, groaning.

Goddess, she needed to sleep! Just a few
hours away from this insanity, that’s all she wanted. She pushed
herself out of her chair with some exhausted difficulty, and left
the office to join Nick in the lounge. He was passed out on one of
the three couches in the otherwise empty room, softly snoring away.
Quiet, calming music wafted down from the ceiling speakers, music
deliberately engineered to enhance a relaxed atmosphere. She was
too irritated to rest, however, and too wound up. She tumbled onto
the adjacent couch and lay on her side, looking over at her
partner. She had grown to care deeply about him, as ARU partners
should, as the close-knit family that they were.

“Hey,” she said quietly. “Nick. You
awake?”

“Hmmm,” he mumbled. “…time is it?”

“Quarter to eight,” she said. “Poe and Caren
should be here soon.”

“Hmmm,” he said. “Wake me.”

“Okay,” she said, holding back tears.

“Why do you not know where they are?”
Farraway barked from behind his desk, glaring at them. “It's
nearing ten o'clock and neither Johnson nor Poe have logged in. Now
is not the time for them to disappear.”

“Believe me, I have tried, sir!” Sheila
snapped back. “I’ve called everyone, multiple times. No one has
seen them. I’m as concerned as you are.”

Farraway leaned forward and was about to say
something when he stopped himself and turned away in disgust. “I'm
sorry the two of you ended up in South City last night. We’re all
short tempered today, between the ESD being shut down and Saisshalé
pulling his stunt. Losing Poe and Johnson right now is last thing
we need. I apologize for raising my voice.”

“Accepted, sir,” Sheila said.

“One more thing: I want Team Two to head down
to the Moulding Warehouse. The earlier the better. Something’s
going on there this morning, after what happened last night.”

“You want us to spy again?”

Farraway frowned deeply at her. “You're
treading thin, Kennedy,” he said slowly. “No ulterior motives here,
I promise you. I just want you to keep me updated. I want you to
report back with anything you hear, observe, or sense, you got me?
We may be unplugged right now, but that doesn't mean we're closed
down. Any kind of uprising, anything even
remotely
like St.
Patrick's, and I want you to get the hell out of there,
understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Anything else? Slater? You've been
quiet so far. Anything to add?”

“No, sir,” he said, forcing back a yawn. “If
you could keep
us
informed if Caren or Alec come in at any
point?”

Farraway nodded. “Of course, Slater. The
minute they step in the door.”

“What the hell was that about?” Nick said as
soon as they'd left Farraway's outer office. “You trying to get
written up?”

She shook her head and kept her eyes forward
as they headed back to their office. “I don't want to hear it,” she
grumbled. “Farraway's in on it. I'm not sure how, but I can sense
it just the same.”

Nick frowned at her. “Hefty charge.”

“I know.”

“We're still going to the Warehouse?”

“Yeah.”

They returned to the office to prepare
themselves for the day’s assignment, and busied themselves with
running safety checks on their weapons. Sheila dreaded heading back
to that place after what happened to her during the failed
Ascension. All those people down there knew her, and she knew all
of them. It felt like a lack of privacy, a lack of being grounded
by her own psyche. She wasn’t in full control of herself down
there.

“Maybe we should skip the uniforms, go
civilian,” Nick suggested.

“I like that idea. Less intimidation.”

Nick frowned at her. “We're observing, not
infiltrating.”

“It certainly seems like it,” she said.

“Hey, if you don't want to go...”

“I'll go,” she said with a little more force
than necessary. “Forget I said anything.”

“Just that you may want to dial back the
irritation. You walk in with
that
mood, and guaranteed,
they'll be all over you.”

“I said forget it!”

He said no more, but she did notice a sly
grin crossing his face as he turned away. Somehow, that one smile
made her feel better.

They were met at the front entryway to the
warehouse by Anando Shalei himself. He’d sensed their approach and
ensured a quiet, low profile entry. Most of the dock bay doors were
open wide to let fresh air into the building, and from outside
Sheila could see the makeshift multi-story shantytown they'd
created in the racking. Bustling energy spilled out into the
streets, the hectic preparations of a war that may or may not come.
The energy was decidedly optimistic either way. Sheila quickly
threw up a protective wall around her spirit. She could not let
herself be affected by it, not now.

“I'm happy you made it,” Anando said. “I was
wondering when the two of you would join us.”

“Don't get your hopes up,” she said. She
didn't want to speak so harshly, but she had little choice. “We're
here to observe and check in at HQ.”

“I understand,” he said without missing a
beat. “Please, make yourselves comfortable. We've got vending down
at the far end if you need anything.”

“We're okay for now. However, I was going to
ask if you've seen Caren yet today. We've been trying to get a hold
of her— ”

“Oh!” Anando beamed. “She arrived here about
two hours ago with Denni. Shall I call her for you?”

She gaped at him. “She’s been
here
all
morning?” Despite her better judgment she tossed out a meager
thread of energy to sense those in the immediate area...and
recoiled it just as quickly, as soon as she’d felt it. She could
still feel the blissful optimism that saturated the place just
weeks ago, keeping the mood light and friendly; that hadn’t gone
away at all. No, it was what she felt underneath that bothered her.
She couldn’t quite place a name on it, but she recognized it just
the same — a nearly blind dedication to the One of All Sacred.

This was an extremely dangerous moment in
time.

“Yes...” she said, her voice uneven. “Yes,
Anando. Please, get her for us.”

He nodded and disappeared into the crowd.
Unobtrusively she followed his spirit, an unmistakable aura
stronger and unique among all the others here, as he weaved in and
out of people, took corners, headed down the third rack lane from
them, and stopped after five bays. She felt him climb up, faster
than anyone could possibly climb on a rickety wooden ladder, and
stop the fourth bay up.

Moments later there was a very
personal
wave of energy she had no reason to be sensing.

“She's here,” she said, exhaling.

Nick moved to her side and laid a hand on her
shoulder. “I know,” he said. “I can feel her as well. She's gotten
stronger. You okay?”

She shivered and turned to him. “Fine as I'll
ever be. I just...”

“It doesn't feel right,” he said. “Does
it?”

“No. It doesn't.”

Nick hummed in agreement. “We'll see,
then.”

Moments later she sensed then saw Caren
approaching them, Denni and Amna in tow. She breathed a sigh of
relief and masked the apprehension she felt. Now was not the time
and place to show it. Caren caught sight of them and flashed a wide
smile. “Hey there!” she said brightly. “I was wondering when you'd
come!”

Denni burst ahead and ran to give her a big
hug. “It’s so good to see you!” she squealed.

Goddess...
Sheila thought.
What is
happening here?
Denni did
not
squeal. Nor was Caren ever
this jovial. “Uh...good to see you too, kiddo,” she said, placing
an awkward arm around the girl. “Listen...I need to talk to your
sister for a bit. Boring work stuff.”

Anando caught on quickly and took Denni's
hand. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s do our rounds, Dearest.”

Denni nodded happily and fell in step with
Anando, Amna quietly walking behind. Sheila watched them walk away,
and felt a shudder crawl down her spine. This optimism felt so
forced, so unnatural. She turned back to Caren, only to see the
same giddy happiness that was so unlike her.

“Something's wrong,” she muttered. “Poe is
missing, you don't make it in and forget to call...what's happening
here?”

“Preparations,” Caren said.

She winced at the word. “And you're
happy
about this?”

“This isn’t happiness, Sheila, it’s —”

“It’s misguided zealotry is what it is,”
Sheila grumbled. “You truly know what you’re doing here? I mean,
truthfully, in your spirit? Will the Mendaihu win this stupid
fucking war that we shouldn't be having in the first place? What's
got into you, Caren? I know you too well, you’re not one to have a
fesh piann
. This whole damn situation is dangerous, and now
is not the time to lose focus.”

“I have faith,” she said, a bit forcefully
but losing none of the cordiality.

“And what if Denni
hadn't
been the
One?” she asked.

Caren faltered, but only for a second.
“I'd...eventually follow,” she said.

“Don't you lie,” Sheila warned. “Not
here.”

“I'm not,” she said. “I'm being honest here.
I
have
to do this. I'm an integral part, just as you and
Nick are.”

Nick moved in, too close. “Don't bring us
into it,” he said, his anger barely restrained.

“But...”

Nick shook his head at her. “No. Please,
don't.”

“It's not that I don't trust you...” Sheila
said. “It's the situation I don't trust. Denni’s back and she’s
strong. Damn scary strong, and a hell of a lot more knowledgeable
than anyone ever expected. And you’re along for the ride, sehnadha.
I can't say I blame you, and if it wasn't for the fact that I
can't
sense all this action as strongly as you do, I'd
probably be right there next to you. But this...” She shook her
hands at her, frowning. “
This
is not you. I swear, in any
other situation, you'd be the
last
person to jump on the
bandwagon…”

Caren glared at her. “How dare —”

She quickly backtracked and bowed slightly.
“Nyhnd’aladh. Bad choice of words. Look, I appreciate that you're
the Protector of the One and whatever else you are now. But are you
aware of what's going to happen? I won't even guess what the body
count might be. We have to — no,
you
have to realize that,
despite being Protector, despite being your sister’s personal
warrior, despite being an overworked ARU agent. You're
Mendaihu
Gharra
. Protector of
Earth
, Caren. Do you know what I'm
trying to say?”

She leveled her eyes at her. “You tell
me.”

But it was Nick that moved forward again,
leaning way too far into her personal space. “It means you don't
necessarily need to be savior here, understand?” he said under his
breath. “Save yourself, then the world.” At that, he turned on his
heels and headed back towards the doors. “I need to leave. Sheila,
I’ll meet you outside,” he said, not turning back.

She watched her partner leave. “I'm sorry,
she said. “I just can't offer my faith as...as
blindly
as
you right now.”

“This is
not
blind faith!” Caren said,
gritting her teeth but keeping her voice low. “This is
realization
. You’re right, I am Mendaihu Gharra. I admit
that. I've been trying to distance myself from the life of a
Mendaihu for ages, because I was afraid of what it would do to me
and what it would do to Denni. But I’m too far in now. I've
awakened. Denni's awakened. Almost everyone else in the world has.
The kiralla know me now. This is bigger than my fears, bigger than
my wanting to shield Denni from harm. This is what I have to
do.”