Flyday

  Flyday

  by Laura E. Bradford

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright 2011 Laura E. Bradford

  License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal use only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not authorized for your use, please return to Smashwords and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Acknowledgments

  I would like to thank the following people for their support of this book: my family, especially James and Lynn, who saw it first; Jeff, for logistical support; Kathy, for everything; and the many others who gave encouragement and thoughtful critiquing.

  Chapter One

  June 15, 2507

  A missile exploded into the Halcyon, sending it into a dive.

  “No, no, no!” Zoë yelled, righting the ship. “No, you are not doing this to me.”

  One of the control panels blinked, and a voice crackled: “Pilot, explain your actions immediately. You are in violation of international law—”

  Zoë shut off the radio com. “Jack, why is the communication system working on their end, but not mine?”

  “I don’t know, Miss Martínez.” The robot plugged one of its arms into a port in the cockpit. “It was functional when we left.”

  Another blast sounded, knocking the ship off course again.

  “Perhaps you should let them board,” the robot suggested. “We can explain the discrepancy in person.”

  “Sure. If they don’t decide to shoot me down completely.” Her ship blasted forward, skirting past the fighters. Okay, she’d been selected for a random search; quite reasonable, as she was flying from Paris with no passengers. And with no way to contact the ship that was tagging her, she’d been labeled a threat. Also a natural progression of logic.

  On the controls, she saw a wide Celestial ship attach itself to the Halcyon. “Celestials boarding,” came the pleasant voice of the ship’s computer. “Manual piloting locked.”

  Zoë sat back, defeated. “That’s it.” She heard loud knocks on the hatch door, then swung toward her co-pilot.

  “Jack,” she said, “let me handle this one, okay?”

  The hatch’s lock twisted with several clicks, and the hatch burst open. Five soldiers, all carrying weapons, marched toward the pilot’s cabin.

  “Hi,” said Zoë, putting up her hands. (Her robot, too, raised its wiry arms.) “I can explain everything—”

  A Celestial officer, sharply dressed from his white beret to his black combat boots, pointed a blaster at her. “Pilot, give me one good reason why I shouldn’t detain you immediately and take a blaster to your ’bot’s processors.”

  Zoë looked down at the robot. “Maybe you should take this one.”

  2.

  Thomas Huxley tapped his fingers on the desk, watching the seconds tick by on a wall clock.

  “And what is your relation to Miss Martínez?” a stern clerk asked.

  “I’m her fiancé,” said Thomas. He glanced over at Zoë, who was sitting with her hands in her lap, dejected. They were in the security office of the Tenokte airport, and a police officer and a clerk were looking over Zoë’s identification and running down a list of questions.

  “Tsk, tsk,” said the police officer, glancing over a written report. “Failing to obey a captain’s orders, resisting a search, fleeing from a Celestial ship … we’ve looked over your ship’s systems, Miss Martínez, and while the communication system was indeed malfunctioning, that doesn’t excuse your behavior.”

  “My behavior?” said Zoë, lifting her head. “You guys were shooting missiles at me. What was I supposed to think?”

  “But the laws are quite clear on the matter. You were chosen at random for an inspection; there’s a one in ten chance of that happening. You were supposed to slow down and allow the Celestial patrols to board. You did not.”

  “They didn’t give me enough time. By the time I got their messages, they were right on my tail. I sped up because I thought they were going to crash into me.”

  The police officer ignored her, pretending to be immersed in his paperwork.

  Thomas leaned over the counter. “Is she being charged with anything?”

  “No. But her pilot’s license will be suspended.”

  Zoë stood up. “My license? But I’ve never been in trouble before. There’s usually just a fine—”

  “I could pay it right now,” Thomas offered. “What’s the fine?”

  “Five hundred credits,” said the clerk.

  “Uh … well, I could pay it in a month or two…”

  “I’ll pay it now,” Zoë said. “Just run it through, and I’ll authorize it.”

  But the police officer held up his hand. “It’s not so simple. Reports have to be filed. You understand.”

  “I have a lot to do today,” said Thomas; but he instantly realized it was the wrong thing to say.

  The police officer looked at him, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, really? Where are you from?”

  “Tenokte.”

  “Hah, not likely. What’s your accent, British?”

  “He lives in London,” Zoë supplied, weary. “But he grew up here.”

  “Ah. So you’ve just come back home to visit family, I see.” The police officer’s eyes narrowed.

  “Actually, I came for work.”

  “Really.”

  He tried to explain: his editor had sent him here to cover the king’s speech and the annual summer celebrations, and his fiancée, a pilot, wanted to rediscover in a vacation the city she had known briefly as a teenager.

  “But I’m usually a music journalist,” he finished. “I interview bands, talk about new releases.”

  “Hm,” said the police officer, looking at Zoë. “That’s right. Didn’t you run around with that band? What was it called … no, now don’t tell me; Bio—”

  “Biological—”

  “Bio … bio something…”

  “Biochemical Pathways,” said Thomas, finally.

  “Yes!” said the clerk. “That’s it.”

  “Are you sure? That doesn’t sound right at all.”

  “Oh, you know, Biochemical Pathways! With that crazy singer, Jamie Parsons.”

  “He’s not crazy,” Zoë replied, defensive. “He’s just … sensitive.”

  The police officer and the clerk looked at each other, not convinced, but they dropped the matter.

  “What did you say your name was?” the police officer asked Thomas.

  “Thomas Huxley.”

  They exchanged a glance, then the police officer coughed and quickly started shuffling through their paperwork.

  “Uh, I’m sorry,” said the clerk, “but what was that name again?”

  “Huxley.” Thomas pulled out his ID card and handed it over.

  The clerk picked it up and studied it. Thomas Huxley was indeed born in Tenokte, MA; his last place of residence was London, England. The clerk handed the card back, and the police officer nervously flipped through the report.

  “So what was that, a misdemeanor? Not responding to a Celestial cruiser?”

  “Easy mistake,” said the clerk.

  “Exactly,” said the police officer. “I’ll let you off with a warning. Miss Martínez, you’re free to go.”

  “Are you sure? What about the fine?”

  “That won’t be necessary.” He pushed the perplexed couple toward the door. “Your ship’s communications system malfunctioned, happens to everyone. Just make sure you get that fixed before you take off again, hm? Have a good day now.”

  And then they were back in the middle of the airport, with the door to the main security office slammed shut behind them.

 
Zoë looked at Thomas, amazed. “How did you do that?”

  “Oh, you just have to argue with them for awhile.” His hands were in his pockets as he walked. “They get really edgy in June. All the diplomats and politicians are flying in for their summer meetings; security’s a nightmare.”

  “No, you just said your name and they backed off.”

  “Oh … well, my dad’s a cop.”

  “Really.” She was smiling now. “I think you told me that … hm, I’ll have to keep that in mind.” She kissed him. “I see you managed to survive the week without me.”

  “Just barely.” He smiled. “How was Paris?”

  “Amazing! As usual. I just wish Tenokte was as … welcoming.”

  He took her hand. “Don’t let it get to you,” he said. “Come on. Let’s go get some lunch.”

  3.

  By destiny or bad luck, which are often the same thing, Jamie Parsons received a visit. The rock star—who was neither crazy nor sensitive, though he probably fell somewhere in between—was, at that moment, sifting through shelves in a music shop. Electric fans spun lazily overhead, but they were mostly for ambiance; an air conditioning system ensured that a cool breeze circulated throughout the store.

  His adventures with Zoë and the band were not far from his mind as he flicked through the shelves. What he needed, though, was inspiration. And what better place than here? Posters and vinyl records filled the shelves, and instruments of every type sat on hooks on the walls: guitars, violins, flutes, clarinets, keyboards. A display in the front showed off the newest releases, but Jamie wasn’t interested in those.

  A group of teenage girls stood by the cash register, watching the rock star and sighing with admiration. A little silver robot wheeled through the store, tidying up the shelves. After a few minutes, Jamie picked out an album and walked up to the register. The girls shrieked with delight, but he seemed not to hear them.

  “Working on some new songs?” said the cashier, as he scanned the record.

  “Yes.”

  “When are they coming out?”

  Jamie swiped his ID card, paying for his purchase. “Dunno. I haven’t written a single note.” He walked out, and six female eyes followed him.

  “He’s dreamy,” said one girl.

  “He’s strange,” said another.

  The third checked her watch. “We have to get to class!” And they dashed out, smiling sweetly to the singer, who held the door open for them.

  Jamie stood outside the store a moment, reading the track listing on the album. A year ago, he’d be signing autographs and chatting with his fans ... but now he wanted to distance himself from his rock-star image. He felt washed up, bored, depressed. But music always cheered him up.

  “Oh, that’s a good one,” came a familiar voice beside him. “Abbey Road. Man, the Beatles knew how to make album covers.”

  Jamie looked up and saw a red-haired girl standing next to him. “Ariel,” he said.

  She grinned. “Hey. I’ve been off exploring Rome—you’d really like it. How’ve you been?”

  His mouth was open, but he couldn’t speak. “I…”

  “I know, I know, stupid question. Have you started the band yet?”

  “Uh ... the band’s done. I started it years ago.”

  She seemed perplexed, then pulled out a copper pocket watch and checked the dials. “Oh, it’s the year twenty-five-oh-seven. Well.” She lifted the watch, a gesture he recognized instantly: she was getting ready to leave.

  “Wait! Ariel, how much time has passed for you? I mean, you don’t look any—”

  “I’m a few days older,” said the girl. “Two, to be exact. Sorry for the confusion. I’ll be back soon.”

  Jamie blinked, and she was gone. He looked out into the street. Rain poured down, and the few people hurrying past under umbrellas took no notice of him—or of the fact that a girl had just vanished. He suddenly felt very alone.

  Two days. How could it be possible? He’d long ago dismissed his recollections of her, thinking he’d imagined the entire incident. And why not, after he’d gone so long and heard nothing? But as he gripped the album, he had to wonder. A few days older? He had a feeling Ariel was telling the truth, but he hadn’t seen her in six years.

  4.

  Meanwhile, Thomas Huxley stood with his fiancée on a lonely boulevard. Rain poured down endlessly, creating a shimmering mist under the gray skies. They were outside the steps of a restaurant.

  “It used to have a different name,” he said, hesitant.

  “It’s still a restaurant,” said Zoë. She took his hand and pushed open the door, and they walked inside. Wide, bright, and quiet, the restaurant had lovely décor and inviting redwood paneling. The tables were filled with just the right mix of tourists eating extravagant dishes, college students clutching coffees, and well-dressed businesspeople discussing reports over their lunch break.

  “I like it,” said Zoë, as the waitress guided them over to their table. She sat down and took in the atmosphere as Thomas scrutinized the menu. “What did it used to be called?”

  “I don’t remember. But next door was a bakery.”

  “No, next door was always a law office.”

  “Fine. If you say so.” He was drumming his fingers on the table.

  Zoë decided not to press the matter. “So you need to be at the speech for…”

  “Eight o’clock,” he said, still immersed in the menu. “But we should leave early to get through security.”

  “Got it,” she said, picking up her own menu. “You know, I’ve never seen one of the king’s speeches before. Except on TV.”

  “Mm. I haven’t either, but they always send reporters to cover it. And our Tenokte correspondent is out on maternity leave, so I … volunteered.” A familiar song played in the background, and Thomas listened, trying to place it. “Is that Biochemical Pathways?” he asked.

  She nodded. “From their first album.”

  It sounded vaguely familiar, but Zoë had heard the song a hundred times, no doubt: her brother Damien had been the drummer for the band, and she had been their pilot when they were on tour.

  The song had a lovely melody. He listened:

  I’m going down, down

  To see the turning of the world

  Leaves turn green and then to gold

  To be trampled on a rainy day

  “What’s Jamie been up to lately?” he asked, referring to the band’s singer.

  “Hm, I don’t know. I’ve been kind of worried about him. Their last album was banned, and they can’t release it.”

  “Banned? Why?”

  “Something about censorship. Anti-government messages, that sort of thing. You know how security is.” She put down the menu. “I should have a salad, but I really want a milkshake and some crinkle-cut fries.”

  “Right,” he said distantly. “They call them fries here.”

  “All right, chips,” she said, faking his accent, and they both laughed.

  An little robot appeared, its eyes flashing as it spoke. “May I take your order?”

  “Yes. I’ll have a salad and small plate of fries, with a vanilla milkshake.” Zoë handed over the menu.

  “And I’ll have a steak, medium rare, with …” He would’ve said a soda or a glass of wine, but he was out of London now, and with his fiancée, whom he could trust with anything. “A Strawberry Jolama Heartache,” he said, referring to a popular ice cream soda.

  “Thank you, sir and madam. Your meal will be ready shortly,” said the robot, and it wheeled away.

  Thomas drummed his fingers on the table.

  “Your accent’s breaking,” said Zoë, smiling.

  “No, it’s not,” he said quickly.

  “There! You’re sliding back into your American one.”

  “Well, maybe I just want to be more like you.”

  Zoë rolled her eyes. “Of course.” She had only ever known Thomas with a standard British newscaster’s accent, so it amused her to hear hi
s natural voice come out.

  “That reminds me,” he said. “I have some good news. Apparently one of the hosts of the morning news show is leaving when his contract’s up, and in November they’ll need a replacement.”

  “You’re kidding! They asked you?”

  He smiled.

  “Thomas, that’s fantastic!”

  “Well, I haven’t taken the offer yet. It’s a tough job. I’d have to live in London for three more years, and be in the studio twelve hours a day, every day. I can’t just film a segment or two in the morning and take off.”

  Zoë looked down. “Three years. Well, I could settle down, live with you.”

  “You won’t want to travel to the stars in your dad’s old ship? You’ve never even been off the planet.”

  Zoë touched the screen of her cell phone, and a tiny, translucent hologram of a golden starship appeared, revolving and hovering above the disk. She pondered it for a moment, then pressed the screen again, and the image flickered and disappeared.

  “Right,” she said. “Well, I promised Jamie I’d visit him while we were here. Do you want to come along? He only lives a few blocks away.”

  “Uh, sure.”

  “Ah!” said Zoë, when their food arrived. “I love these fries. Why did I ever leave Tenokte?”

  Thomas looked outside. It had stopped raining.

  As the couple walked to Jamie’s house, the clouds cleared to a blue sky, and everything seemed drenched and clean. Sunlight shimmered in the air, making the world shine as if dipped in liquid gold.

  The rock star could live anywhere, but chose to hide himself away in Tenokte. He’d originally built the mansion as a summer house, and paid for it with the money he made by captivating the world. But when Biochemical Pathways disbanded the previous summer, he never moved out, confusing his already nervous diplomat and politician neighbors.