The lost astronaut, p.21
The Lost Astronaut, page 21
The next morning, Jag awoke to the intercom saying, “Prisoner 62-832-60 to see the warden.” As he was transported to the warden’s office, worry flooded his mind over what Bayli may have said.
“Have a seat, Prisoner 62-832-60,” the warden said. “I see that you have been an exemplary prisoner. Therefore, I am downgrading you from red to yellow, and you will be allowed more freedom. Understand that I have never downgraded an inmate before. If you break even one rule, you will be returned to red status immediately. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” Jag said, surprised by the turn of events.
Brimmel stood and looked out the window. Jag felt the warden wanted to ask him something, but he hesitated. Finally, the warden turned back to him.
“Your visitor, Ms. Bayli, are you and her close?”
Jag thought for a moment and then nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“As in a romantic relationship?”
“Oh no, sir. She’s like a sister to me.”
“Oh,” the warden replied, visibly relieved. “Well then, be sure to let her know that I enjoyed speaking with her and would enjoy visiting with her should she return in the future.”
“Uh, will do sir,” Jag replied.
“That is all,” Brimmel said.
Jag thanked him once again, and then he was taken to perform his daily exercise.
After exercising and showering, when Jag went to retrieve a clean prison suit, a glowing yellow suit was provided instead of his normal red one, and when he stepped onto the pad, it no longer displayed red but yellow. After dinner, he was transported to the yellow pod, where his new cell was twice as large as his previous one. It contained bunkbeds, a small table, and two chairs. Since both bunks were empty, he jumped on the upper bunk.
An hour later, the elevator stopped outside his cell. Jag jumped down from the bunk, as he expected a transport pad to emerge. Instead, the door opened, and there stood Marcel, looking emaciated. Elated to see him, Jag helped him to the bottom bunk.
“How did you do this?” Marcel asked.
“It wasn’t me,” Jag said, “it was Bayli.”
Over the next few days, Marcel fully recovered, and their spirits were encouraged by being together. Jag updated Marcel on their attorney’s appeal, and they counted down the days until Bayli’s return. True to her word, she visited again, and Marcel was the first to meet with her. Afterwards, Jag was taken to see her.
“Thank you so much for speaking to the warden,” Jag said. “It’s helped us both.”
“I’m glad,” Bayli said. “Marcel looked good, though he started crying when he saw me, and then I started crying.”
“Yeah, he’s gained some weight and seems to be doing better. So how’s the appeal process going?”
Sadness filled her eyes as she looked at him. “It failed, Jag. The judge we hoped would hear us declined our petition. Now the attorney is requesting a special hearing before the senate president.”
Jag hung his head upon hearing this news.
“Don’t give up,” Bayli said. “We aren’t done yet.”
Afterwards, Bayli asked the guard if she could see the warden. The guard was prepared for the request, as Brimmel had instructed him to keep an eye out for her. The guard escorted her to the warden’s office. As she entered. he approached to shake her hand, but she gave him a hug instead.
“Thank you, thank you for all your help, Kal.”
“It was nothing. Glad to see it made a difference,” Brimmel replied. “I checked in on young Marcel several times and saw that his health has returned to him.”
Bayli noted that it was the first time the warden had mentioned either prisoner by name instead of by number.
“Thank you so much for your concern! Marcel said he is doing much better.”
“If he’s doing better, why the sad face?” Brimmel asked.
“It’s this appeal process. One day hopeful, the next day discouraging as yet one more judicial door closes.”
“I’m sorry for how this has impacted you,” the warden replied. “Here, have a seat.”
“Well, it’s nothing like what Jag and Marcel are going through,” Bayli said, accepting the warden’s offer. “And if not for your help, I’m not sure if Marcel would have made it this long. I will tell the admiral about your help.”
Warden Brimmel. “I assure you that it was no trouble.”
“Well, thank you anyways.” She paused. “I do have one more favor to ask, if it isn’t too much.”
The warden’s smile widened. “How can I assist you now?”
“Sitting in a cell all day isn’t the best for growing boys. Is there something you can have them do to help pass the time?”
Brimmel chuckled. “I have a feeling you’re using me, Ms. Bayli.”
Bayli smiled coyly. “Perhaps just a tad.”
He nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you, Kal. I look forward to our next meeting,” Bayli said as she stood up.
The next day, Jag received another summons to the warden’s office. He took a deep breath before entering, not knowing what Bayli may have said or done.
“Jag, come in and sit down,” the warden said. “I’ve given this some consideration, and I don’t believe it’s good for young minds to sit idle all day. I’m going to take a chance on you and expand your privileges to include work duties. Tomorrow, you will report to IRIS in the repair shop, and Marcel will report to Matias in the cafeteria. However, please know that if we have any problems with either of you, both of you will be sent back to red. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
Brimmel nodded. “You are free to go.”
As Jag stepped on the transport pad, Brimmel had one more question. “Tell me, Jag. Does Bayli like any certain type of flowers?”
“Flowers sir? I honestly don’t know. I’ll be sure to ask her the next time she visits though.”
“Oh, that’s quite fine.” Brimmel smiled and shook his head. “She really is a fascinating woman.”
“Yes, that she is sir,” Jag replied. Though he also wanted to say that she was a handful, a tad bossy and highly opinionated. But most importantly, an incredible friend.
Chapter 18
THE GOLDEN THREAD
The next morning, Jag and Marcel reported to their new work details. Jag was transported down to the bottom of the crater. The deeper he went, the darker it became. The elevator stopped at a maintenance room filled with elevator parts and components.
“Hello, IRIS?” Jag called out as he walked around. “Anyone in here?”
He entered a small room with a repair bench and various disassembled parts strewn across it. Just as Jag started to say “Hello” one more time, a hand grabbed his shoulder, startling him.
“You must be Prisoner 62-832-60,” a robotic voice said.
“Yes. Are you IRIS?”
“Yes, I am.”
“You’re an android,” Jag said. “You startled me. I didn’t see you there.”
“I was recharging my batteries. They don’t hold their charge as long as they once did.”
“Were you an assistant to the royal family?” Jag asked, seeing a royal seal imprinted on the android’s chest with the classification I-class Royal Interpreter Servant underneath, which explained his name.
“No. I am the elevator maintenance android. Why would you think that?”
“Oh, it’s just that you have a royal seal imprinted on your chest like the king’s androids.”
“I don’t remember being a royal assistant but then again, I don’t remember much as I’ve seem to have lost my long-term memory. The warden informed me that you will be assisting me with elevator maintenance. Follow me.”
IRIS led Jag to a Maintenance Utility and Load Elevator (MULE). It had wheels attached to long arms enabling it to pass easily over elevators. The MULE had multiple doors that gave it access to an elevator from any angle. Inside the MULE, a control panel displayed every elevator in the prison and granted IRIS the ability to control them.
IRIS handed Jag an oxygen mask and then tapped several commands into a keypad. The MULE glided over the glass surface and stopped at an elevator in need of repair. They stepped onto the top of the elevator and, using a crowbar, pried open two locks on an access panel. Then they climbed down into the broken elevator and replaced several defective parts. After testing the elevator, they returned to the MULE and then back to the shop.
“This key will only work for you,” IRIS said as he handed Jag an access keycard. “It will allow you to open elevators and cellblock doors in the prison pods.” IRIS demonstrated how to use the key card at a control panel. “Know that all usage of the key is monitored, and any inappropriate activity will be reported for disciplinary action. Do you understand?”
Jag nodded. “Yes.”
“We are finished, and Prisoner 62-832-60 must now return to his cell, for I must recharge.”
Jag used the keycard as was shown to summon a transport pad to return to his cell. When Marcel returned, he was excited to tell Jag about his work duty.
“I deliver meals to inmates who can’t come to the cafeteria for dinner,” Marcel said.
“Why can’t they go to the cafeteria?” Jag asked.
“Some inmates are too big to fit in an elevator. One guy’s a gigantic blob inside a glass box. I placed the food beside the box, and within seconds, he oozed over the sides and absorbed the food. It was totally gross and awesome at the same time!”
“Sounds like you had an interesting morning.”
“It was! How was your day?” Marcel asked, and Jag told him about his work with IRIS.
The next day, Jag and IRIS finished their work early, but IRIS had to return quickly to recharge his batteries.
“Would you like me to examine your batteries?” Jag asked.
“Why would you do that, Prisoner 62-832-60?”
“I may be able to do something to help improve their charge.”
“That would be against security protocol. I am not scheduled for repair.”
“I’m quite good at fixing things. Let me take a look. You can watch everything I do.”
“Okay, proceed, but don’t do anything without asking,” IRIS said. Then, under IRIS’s watchful eye, Jag removed the front panel on IRIS’s chest, giving him access to the android’s internal compartment.
“There’s a lot of corrosion in here, and I’ll need to replace some of the cabling.”
“Proceed,” IRIS said as Jag removed the corrosion and replaced some wires, IRIS watching him the entire time.
“That should do it. How’s your power flow?” Jag asked.
“I am at 80 percent now,” IRIS said, sounding a little more animated. “Thank you . . .”
“You’re welcome,” Jag said. As he went to return the panel, he noticed a computer chip that had been knocked out of its socket. “There’s a chip that’s come out. Alright if I put it back?” Before IRIS could reply, Jag pushed the chip firmly into its socket. Immediately, IRIS’s eyes widened, and his face registered a shocked expression.
“Is everything alright?” Jag asked.
“Yes! That must have been my memory chip. I remember everything now. My designation is I-RIS-X10D-3, and I was King Marcellus’s personal android interpreter.”
“Do you mind if I still call you IRIS? That’s a lot easier to say.”
“Why would I mind? I do not have a feelings module.”
“So, IRIS, how did you end up here?”
“It seems I was damaged during a battle on . . .” IRIS paused, still accessing his memories, “Atundra, and then I was outmoded and assigned here.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Why are you sorry?” IRIS asked as he tilted his head to communicate confusion.
“I would think that serving the king would be a more fulfilling role for an android of your caliber than repairing elevators in a prison.”
“Why would one task be of greater value? Are not both needed?”
“Yes, it’s just that the other offers more prestige and excitement.”
“Hmm . . . I don’t see it that way, but I understand how you might.”
After repairing IRIS, Jag returned to his cell and took a nap. Minutes later, he heard Marcel walk into the cell.
“How was your day?” Jag asked as he rolled over, only to see an upset look on Marcel’s face. Jag sat up “What’s wrong?”
“He’s here!” Marcel said.
“Who’s here?”
“The giant! He’s here!”
“You mean the Tahjon, the guardian?”
“Yes! They had drones delivering his meals, but he kept destroying them. So I was sent, and as I entered his cell, I saw robot pieces everywhere. He was wearing cuffs around his wrists and ankles with cables attached to the ceiling, holding him back. As I neared him, I freaked out and ran away. I’m scared, Jag. If I don’t deliver his food, they’ll send me back to the red pod. Please don’t let them send me back to red!”
“Take it easy. We’ll figure this out,” Jag said. He thought for a moment and then looked up. “I’ll do it. I’ll deliver his food to him.”
“How?” Marcel asked. “My pad won’t return again until tomorrow.”
“IRIS gave me a keycard that I can use to travel for repairing elevators. Stay here; I’ll take the tray to him.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“I’ll be fine. Just stay here.”
Jag took the tray of food, swiped his card, and took an elevator to the guardian’s cell. He entered cautiously, stepping over several robotic parts. The guardian didn’t turn or acknowledge him. Jag placed the tray within reach of Tahjon and then stepped back.
“Tahjon, do you remember who I am?”
The guardian didn’t answer, just stared straight ahead. Jag left and returned to his own cell. He told Marcel that he would take the tray to Tahjon from now on after completing his work with IRIS.
Each day, Jag sat the tray down near the giant, stepped back, and talked about trivial matters, trying to befriend him. After several weeks, as Jag was leaving, Tahjon spoke for the first time.
“Thank you.”
“You are welcome. You may not remember me, we met on Norr—”
“I know who you are. You are the admiral’s assistant. I felt you both as soon as I arrived on this moon. You can tell the boy that he doesn’t need to fear me.”
“I think seeing all the broken robot parts on the floor scared him,” Jag said.
“I was angry. I am no longer angry, but why do you care?” Tahjon asked.
“Because I figure you’re probably just as guilty as we are,” Jag said. “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”
“I know what you are about to ask, and I can’t answer you.”
“I thought guardians couldn’t read minds.”
“We can’t, but it doesn’t take a mind reader to know you want to ask what happened the day the king died.”
“Yes, please tell me.”
“I can’t. I am honor-bound.” The giant placed his hand over the glowing blue mark on his chest. “I can’t break my oath.”
“I see. What if I asked questions that didn’t break your oath? Could you answer them?”
Tahjon shrugged. “Perhaps. It depends on the question.”
“Was Measil involved in the king’s murder?”
Tahjon nodded. “Yes.”
“Did he kill the king?”
“No.”
“Was it the prince?”
Tahjon did not respond.
“I see. Did you kill Sonji?”
“I didn’t want to. He was my friend, my mentor. I didn’t know what I was doing.”
“Then why did you do it?”
“I had no choice. Ever since we were bonded, the prince has learned how to use his feelings to control me, causing me to do things I wouldn’t do otherwise. As a child, he’d play tricks where he would force himself to feel as if he were being attacked. Then when I rushed in to rescue him, he would start laughing. Once during a royal funeral, he became bored and had me run in and disrupt the entire funeral procession. I thought he had outgrown all that.”
“Don’t you have any choice?”
“As a guardian, we are bonded to act on our charge’s feelings. I can sense him even now, though he is across the galaxy.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“No, it is I who am sorry. You and the boy are paying for something you didn’t do.”
“But you could tell them that Marcel and I didn’t have anything to with it!”
“I cannot betray my oath. If I tell them you’re innocent, then the only other person it could be is the prince. I am truly sorry, for both you and the boy seem like such good people.”
IRIS discovered that Jag was delivering food to Tahjon by using his key card. The warden had ordered IRIS to report any suspicious behavior. When IRIS informed the warden about Jag’s activities, he was not angry but pleased not to lose any more drones.
On Bayli’s next visit, Jag could tell something was bothering her. “Is everything alright?”
“I’m sorry, Jag,” Bayli said, tears streaming down her face. “We’ve tried everything. The senate president has turned down our petition. Your attorney says there’s nothing further that can be done except a pardon from the future queen after her coronation next week.”
Jag sat back in disbelief. Everything had been going so well. They had received favor from the warden and were certain the doors would open for a retrial.
“It can’t be over! We didn’t do it!”
“I know, but without any new evidence, we can’t get a hearing,” Bayli said.
Jag stared at the floor. “I don’t want you to visit anymore. You must go on with your life and forget about us.”
“What! Now you listen to me, Jag! I didn’t travel four days to get here so you can just give up!”
“You said it yourself, nothing more can be done.”
“That’s right; we can’t see a way at this moment. But that doesn’t mean one doesn’t exist. I will come every month regardless of whether you show up or not. You can either stay in your cell and feel sorry for yourself, or come talk with me. Regardless, I will be here. Do you hear me?”
