Through a
Mirror Darkly
Breakaway + 10 yrs, ~ 7 months
Tony walked out of the children’s bedroom holding the bookreader still warm from the hour of bedtime stories. His voice had gone hoarse as he had read story after story in answer to the repeated requests for ‘just one more’. He didn’t know how Maya could finish that bedtime chore in half the time. Well, yes he did. She didn’t cave into those big green eyes four-year-old Lysee would bat at him with such devastating charm. They were a lethal weapon when it came to getting what she wanted out of her father. And little six-month-old Kelsia seemed to be taking notes already on her older sister’s techniques. Roberto was immune to his sisters’ charms, but had long since realized that he was outnumbered and outflanked when it came to the two little girls. He was, however, more than happy to let Lysee have her way when he too wanted more bedtime stories. Tony noted with pride that for a mere not quite five-year-old, his son was well on his way to learning how to deal with the opposite sex.
Walking back from the small kitchen and sipping a cup of water to moisten his dry mouth, Tony saw the door to the second bedroom open. Seeing Maya caused his mouth to go dry all over again. She walked out of their bedroom fresh from her evening shower wearing only a towel. Barely wearing a towel. But before he had much of a chance to react, she picked up the laundry bag with clean clothes and slipped back into their bedroom.
Taking a deep breath, Tony finished his water. Damn, but wasn’t he the luckiest guy on Alpha. There were many lovely women on the base, but there was only one Maya. And for some reason he still didn’t quite understand, she had chosen him.
He quickly reviewed the on-call duty list. Annette was senior tech on duty in Command Center tonight and, yes, John was on-call for emergencies. Good. Tony returned to the food prep area and retrieved two real glasses and opened the cold box for the small bottle of wine. The vineyards in the catacombs would never be the match of Tuscany nor even Napa Valley in the States, but the small batches of wine produced so far were both palatable and potent. It hadn’t taken much to persuade an amateur glass worker on the hazmat/rescue team to turn out some drinking glasses made from lunar silica. Tony paused to study the delicate, fluted goblet in his hand. She’d done a lovely job, too.
He returned to the main room holding the small wine bottle and the two glasses by their stems. He turned down the lights and sat on the sofa, pouring himself a small amount of the red wine. He sipped. Not bad. Swirling the wine in the glass, he leaned back against the sofa, propping his feet up on the small table. He stared into the distance, his thoughts on family and friends. It was a rare treat to have this much uninterrupted time.
About halfway though his glass, Maya finally walked out of their bedroom. Tony could see she had dried herself and was wearing a blue Alphan robe over a long, pale sleepshirt. Her sharp vision, much better than any Terran’s in low light, quickly found him and she walked toward the sofa. Tony returned his glass to the small table and stood to meet Maya halfway. He took her slender hand in his and kissed the fingertips as her guided her back to the sofa.
Seated now side by side, Maya tucked her legs up beneath herself. She smiled at him and gently traced the side of his face with light fingertips. Tony closed his eyes in pleasure and smiled at the gentle kiss she placed on his lips. Not opening his eyes, he reached up and pulled her head even closer to his to prolong the kiss. Running his fingers though her thick hair was a thrill he never tired of. Usually she wore it pulled up and back, making her resemble a patrician noblewoman of old, but when it hung loose around her face, falling in auburn waves down to her back, he knew it was just for him.
Finally separating, Tony handed her the second glass of wine. Maya had learned to enjoy its taste, but he knew she drank it mostly because it pleased him to see her try new things. Leaning back, they sat side by side on the sofa, Maya resting her head against Tony’s shoulder as his arm lay lightly on her shoulders. He enjoyed her clean scent and very warm touch as he continued to run his hand down her hair. Sitting next to the woman he loved in the rare moment of Alphan peace and quiet was the perfect way to end a day.
“Tony?” Maya spoke softly into the silence.
“Hmm?” He leaned over the small amount needful to kiss the side of her head.
“Do you agree with the Commander?”
Tony’s thoughts became more focused as he considered Maya’s question. He had no doubt to what she was referring. In the last week Sandra and Alpha’s archivist, Sister Betty, had discovered messages from Earth buried deep in the Texas City transmissions sent by Dr. Logan’s team all those years ago. The two women had been working on the vast data collection on and off for years and had recovered a wealth of children’s literature, some novels and even a few animated films. There had been a small amount of technical data relating to the neutrino technology, but other than that there had been a disappointing lack of truly helpful information. Until last week.
Sister Betty had uncovered a previously unknown collection of damaged written, audio and visual files that she had taken to her section head, Sandra. The damage to the files during their transmission from Earth had been extensive, but Sandra had managed to recover enough data that the written files were, for the most part, finally understandable. To the command staff’s amazement, what they had found was nothing less than messages from home. Messages from family, friends and co-workers written to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Breakaway. And to Tony’s surprise, it had caused a fair amount of dissent and consternation among the command staff.
Sandra and Alan had been the first to read their messages, that was no surprise, but whatever it was they had found had left them visibly shaken. Alan had even gone so far as to take Tony aside and suggest he not read his letter. And at today’s Command Staff meeting, Sandra in particular had petitioned John not to release the letters, and to his surprise, John had agreed. Tony wasn’t so sure he did.
“Are you still curious about your message?”
Tony swallowed his mouthful of wine. “Yeah. I left a large family behind on Earth. We were very close and I know my parents would’ve taken it hard.”
Maya simply nodded as she watched Tony take another sip. She had ‘met’ Tony’s brother Guido that time with the plasma creatures, and even though the ‘people’ had been simulacrums pulled from the memories of the Alphans, it had given her a small appreciation for how close Tony had been to his older brother.
“I just wish I knew why Sahn and Alan are so dead set against releasing the information.”
“Perhaps it is because the information does not come from the same reality as you? That perhaps Dr. Logan’s reality is different enough that you and the others were, are… different people?”
Tony nodded, having to grant Maya her point. But still, Doc Logan’s Earth had lost its moon in a way similar enough to theirs that the Texan City team knew where and how to find Alpha. And the sports and space history had matched. Yeah, he still wanted to know.
“Maya, you did manage to unscramble those video images, right?”
Maya nodded.
“And you could, say, just hypothetically, get around the security locks John had Sandra put on the files, right?”
“Tony…”
“Come on, Maya, how can you know the messages are there and not want to see what they say? I bet John will end up checking on his.”
Taking Maya’s glass and placing both on the table, he leaned over and started to kiss Maya on her neck while his hands roamed further south to gain purchase on her slim form. Without giving any warning, he stood quickly, smothering her protest with a kiss, and carried her with him only to deposit her on the chair in front of the quarter’s computer terminal. He thoughtfully adjusted the light so she could easily see the screen. He leaned over her shoulder and looked at the screen with anticipation.
“I bet you can get past those locks in no time flat.”
Maya sighed and started the series of requests needed to find the vaulted information. “Tony, if the Commander finds out, he will know I helped you.”
“Why? Just because I’m married to the sneakiest person on Alpha?”
Not taking her eyes off the screen, Maya reached over her shoulder and patted Tony on the cheek. “No, that’s my privilege.”
Tony kissed her hand and stepped away to pull up a chair and wait while Maya worked. To his surprise, it took a good half hour for Maya to unlock the files. It was a mark of his curiosity that, except to rescue his wine, Tony did not leave his vigil.
Finally, Maya sat back with a small smile of success. Tony shook himself alert and sat up straight casting a quick glance at the Psychon. “Sandra must have really wanted to protect those files.”
“Or she knew you would be cheating.”
“Yeah, possibly.”
The files in front of them covered 311 Alphans as well as a general message of introduction and explanation. Interestingly, those 311 files did not include Helena nor Victor Bergman and did include a few names of people Tony knew had rotated off Alpha in the days and weeks prior to Breakaway. There were also names of a few people in the ILC who had been affiliated with Alpha but not on their Alpha at the time of Breakaway. Most mysterious was the name of the Alphan in charge of the nuclear waste facility of whom there was no record of whatsoever in any of their databases.
“Alright, Maya, let’s find mine.”
Each name had a master file which contained several sub-files: always a written file, many with video files and a few audio-only files. Maya scrolled down the list to almost the very end and found Tony’s. His was one that had text and video files. With a quick look at Tony who nodded his readiness, she clicked open the video file.
The picture stuttered for a moment and then opened with a view of green, rolling hills, some covered with vineyards and some with orchards. The trees looked less than completely healthy but there were olives to be seen ripening in the branches. The sky had an unhealthy tinge to its usual vivid blue. The camera pulled back and into view came an open air veranda, the breezes gently moving a protective canopy. Seated on a marble bench beneath the striped canopy was a small woman, black hair turning grey and with a deep sorrow in her eyes. She took a deep breath and then spoke in a voice that was soft and musical in its Italian.
~~~
“Anthony Dean Verdeschi, I do not believe you died up there on that moon like they said you did, but still, it is clear to me now that you are not coming back, so I must somehow say goodbye.”
She could be seen to take a deep breath.
“You will be happy to know the family survived the earthquakes fairly well. The house was only a little damaged and that has since been repaired by Guido and Marco.”
Tony inhaled sharply but gestured quickly for Maya to remain silent.
“The volcano eruptions did not affect us at all, and by the grace of the Virgin, all of our family came home safe. Except you.
“Maria, well, she has not coped so well, but we will always look after her. She still grieves for you, but she is our daughter now and will always have a home with us. You need not worry over her, though; Guido looks after her most tenderly.”
A small smile now creased her face.
“Nicci is well. She has your eyes, your smile, and your God-given gift for getting into trouble. I fear she will send me to an early grave. She is forever underfoot, and we love her all the more for it.”
The woman’s gentle smile faded and her eyes started to fill with tears.
“I always thought you would come home, Tony, after you finished seeing your stars. I still cannot believe you are gone, but I will not believe you are dead.”
The small woman pounded one fist into the other hand, her dark eyes full of tearful determination.
“Call me a foolish woman, but I see you among your stars living a wonderful life. Knowing your ways, I imagine you have found yourself a nice girl among all those pretty Alphans you told me about. You are not a man to live alone, and if Maria could find it within herself to be here, I know she would tell you the same. Have many, many children, Tony. They are God’s gift.”
The woman now sat up straight, hands clasped in her lap.
“You will always be in my heart, Tony. Take the Verdeschi name to the stars and make us proud. I know you will. I love you, my son. Arrivederci.”
~~~
The camera backed up as Tony’s mother stood and was joined by a thin grey-haired man carrying a small child of about six years on his arm. She was black haired and dark-eyed and very pretty. She was obviously trying to behave and look solemn in her formal dress, but she had an impish gleam to her eye and a dimple beside her slight smile. The image froze on the faces of his parents and his… daughter.
Tony felt Maya’s hand take his and he squeezed it gently. She had probably understood most of what his mama had said. Her knowledge of Italian was fair as Tony used it frequently to speak with the children in their quarters.
“Tony, who is ‘Marco’?
Tony answered absently. “My older brother. He died at birth.”
Tony’s emotions shifted rapidly. His brother had lived in this world. But what about his three sisters? Mama hadn’t mentioned them. And who was this ‘Maria’ that Guido was looking after?
“Did you know a ‘Maria’ on your Earth?”
Tony jumped slightly. At times it felt liked Maya could almost read his mind.
“Tony?”
“Uh, no, Maya. Well, no Maria’s that I was close enough to even consider marrying. It’s a common name where I was from. The child is beautiful.”
“Mmm. Definitely Roberto’s sister.”
Tony leaned back in his chair deep in thought. After a few minutes he turned to a quiet Maya. “Can you call up the memorial service? I want to see who read out my name.”
With a few more keystrokes the screen darkened momentarily but then showed images from a large open-air auditorium. There was a wide stage with several podiums bearing the sigils of Alpha, the ILC and the World Alliance. The back of the stage was surrounded by the flags of many nations all fluttering in the mild breeze. Across the front of the stage, but behind the podiums were several rows of chairs filled by dignitaries in formal dress and the uniforms of many agencies and military branches. The camera was far enough back to see that the first forty or so rows of the audience had been set aside for honored guests.
The restless noises from the assembled audience stilled as an elderly, silver haired man stood and walked slowly to the center podium. Tony only vaguely recalled the face but the resonate voice was instantly recognizable. It was the American voice Tony had grown up listening to as it described the early space and lunar missions. Tony watched as Walter Cronkite succinctly and eloquently summarized the events of Breakaway and then sat down to allow others to speak. Tony reached out a hand to fast-forward past the dignitaries’ speeches.
“Tony, wait.” Maya interrupted him softly. She leaned forward to see the small images on the screen better.
“What is it, Maya?”
“Is that… Helena?”
Tony frowned and leaned forward for a better look of where Maya was pointing. “Can you make the images larger?”
Maya touched a few keys and the images of the people in the second row on stage became larger and clearer.
Seated next to a lean, saturnine man in the uniform of a British Air Vice-Marshal sat a thin, blond woman wearing civilian clothes. And although the hair was styled longer and the clothes dark and severely cut, it was undoubtedly Helena Russell.
“Damn, that’s Lee Russell, I’m sure.”
Maya looked at Tony. She had read the files of the Alphan’s early adventures and knew of the events of Terra Nova. She looked back at the screen. Seated next to Helena was an elderly couple, the woman in the uniform of the British Army.
“Tony, is that Victor Bergman?”
Tony startled and then looked at the images even more carefully.
“He’s a lot older, but yeah, I think you’re right.” There was a long silence as Tony tried to reconcile what he was seeing with what he knew had happened. Maya simply sat quietly and respected his need to be undisturbed.
“Alright, let’s see who read out the names. But let’s start at the beginning.”
“Tony…”
“Just do it Maya.” He picked up her hand and kissed its back while not taking his eyes off the screen. “Please.”
Even without looking, he knew Maya came close to refusing. Finally, she shrugged and leaned forward to adjust the images. She fast forwarded as the dignitaries, including Russell and Bergman, gave their unheard speeches, and through the family members queuing up behind the various podiums. It was obvious to Tony that these people had done this before. There was a sense of resigned determination to those present.
An older woman accompanied by a younger man walked up to the middle podium. Adjusting the microphone, the older woman spoke. “Dr. Laura Catherine Adams, botanist, the United Kingdom.” The image cut to another set of relatives at another of the podiums. “Dr…”
“Okay, Maya.”
She advanced the images quickly. Families flickered past.
“Maya, stop.”
There was a tall, distinguished grey-haired and bearded man wearing a bow-tie standing behind a petite Asian woman. Sandra’s mother sounded eerily like her daughter. “Sandra Hla Benes, data analyst, the United Kingdom.”
The names continued as Tony sat back with a furrow on his brow. “Sandra once told me her mother died in the war of ’87.” He didn’t have long to consider much else before his attention was again caught by people who seemed familiar.
A tanned, long-haired blond woman was followed by a lanky, balding man carrying an equally blond, blue-eyed girl on his arm. The child appeared to be four or five years old. The woman spoke with a marked accent. “Flight Lieutenant Alan Richard Carter, astronaut pilot, Australia.”
Tony sat still and impassive as the names continued.
“Dr. Joseph Drewe Ehrlich, nuclear physicist, South Africa.”
“Dr. Douglas Alderman Fentiman, engineer and astrophysicist, United States of America”
“Dr. David Jeffery Kano, computer engineer, Jamaica.”
The camera flicked to the next family member. An elegant, refined woman dressed in a bright, flowing caftan stood at a podium alone. She looked out at the crowd and unlike the others did not immediately recite a name. The small background noises stilled completely and Tony and Maya could hear the snap of the flags in the background and the distant cry of an infant quickly silenced. The dignified woman pulled herself even straighter and lifted her chin with obvious pride and love. “Colonel John Robert Koenig, pilot and astronaut, America.” With measured dignity, she then picked up a small bundle from off camera and shook it open. Reaching up, she placed an old, battered and obviously much loved blue Mets cap on her blond head. “And Commander of Moonbase Alpha.”
The names continued.
~~~~~~~~
“Dr. Daniel Enrico Mateo, botanist, Italy”
“Sister Elizabeth Mary McCandless, Vatican City.” A Roman Catholic cardinal in all his finery stepped back from the podium.
“Dr. Ernst Linden Queller, physicist and engineer, Germany.”
“Flight Lieutenant Peter Alistair Rockwell, astronaut pilot, the United Kingdom.”
“Bradley Shaw Upham, geophysicist, Canada.”
~~~~~~~~
“Tony?” Maya’s voice was worried. Tony realized he had pulled away from her again and reached out to take her hand back into his.
“Tony?”
“Shh…” Tony sat up straight. The camera had focused on the same woman from his private message, this time accompanied by Guido and a stunningly beautiful, dark woman who held Guido’s hand tightly. Tony’s mother guided the younger woman to the microphone and stepped back. The younger woman glanced at Guido who nodded and then she approached the microphone.
“Capitano Anthony Dean Verdeschi, sicurezza, Italia.” The older woman nodded in apparent satisfaction and turned to lead her small procession off stage. The next image was of a very senior U.S. Marine NCO in full formal uniform.
“Sergeant Maisey Watts, nutrition services, United States Marine Corps.”
Tony reached up and turned the images off.
~~~~~~~~
“But we already have three children.” He said quietly into the darkness.
Maya was not to be deterred. “Tony, you need to have another child. Only Roberto is truly yours.”
Tony snorted. He knew he couldn’t love Lysee and Kelsia any more than he did even if they had been his by blood. But still, to have another child…
“Knowing Sahn, she might be willing to cooperate, but I doubt if Alan will let her host another child. He certainly hasn’t forgotten how sick she was with Roberto. One surrogate pregnancy is enough for any woman to endure. And since Medical still hasn’t figured out what that bastard Magus did to us, you still can’t carry a child by me.”
“No, Tony, not a child with me. A fully human child. We don’t know if any child of mine will be able to have children of his or her own, yet.”
“Maya...”
She covered Tony’s lips with her fingertips and nodded toward the now darkened computer screen. “Shh... Tony, listen to your mother. You need to have more than just one child.”
Tony looked at Maya steadily. He could see no doubt in her eyes.
“I don’t think I can stand aside and allow a child of mine to be raised by someone else. I’m not Alan.”
A small amount of her usual mischievousness returned. “I know.”
“Maya.”
“Perhaps there is a way.”
“Why do I think I’ll regret this?
“Oh, I don’t think so.” Maya kissed him, obviously already considering their options. She stood and walked toward their bedroom. “It’s late, Tony, and I’m tired. Come to bed.”
Yawning at the thought of his early morning schedule, Tony had to agree. Nothing more would be accomplished tonight, although he wondered if sleep would come easily. The images, emotions and possibilities raised by that alternate Earth were still wheeling through his thoughts. He could begin to see why Alan and Sandra had advised restraint. But those dimples on little Nicci…
He joined Maya, already asleep in their bed.
21 September 2006
MKG