Clackers

Clackers - Part 5

CHAPTER TWELVE - DRAFT

From Provo's hut I went directly to Aiden's apartment. It was the middle of the night but he understood. I've been bending his ear with my problems and he hasn't complained. We talked all night and I thought I would have been more freaked, but I was calm. Aiden listened and said very little. He then walked me back to my apartment in the Palladium. Since we both live in the Palladium we're not that far apart but the blackness of the grounds and the rushing sound of the river Tems made it fell strange. Aiden dropped me at my door and I was supposed to get a couple hours of sleep before morning practice but I couldn't sleep so I called Aiden. He stayed up talking with me most of the night in his apartment and then I woke him up again. I only realized what I had done when I saw his eyes flutter closed due to tiredness. I had the guy walk me home, go to his own apartment, and then come back to talk at my apartment. He didn't complain. By the time I was all talked out it was too late to go to sleep so we have made our way to the practice facility.We're very early for morning practice with Sentius but the physical activity will take my mind off Mom.

At first I thought Mom was pretending not to recognize me, but I am sure my Mom has no idea who I am. I gave Mom a hug. Mom hates hugs from strangers and she pulled away from me. Like everyone who clacks onto Saffire she has no memory of home—everyone except me. The first night in the cell I talked to Mom constantly. If Mom remembered home she would have recognized my voice. Mom didn't speak that night in the holding cell, she only cried. If Mom had said one word in that cell, I guarantee I would have recognized her. I would not have left that cell without her, I would not have let her go to the mines. It would not have happened. I have a comfortable apartment and Mom lives in mud hut. What's going on back home? How are Dad and Sophia taking this? They must be way past frantic.

Aiden smacks his Co on the ground. That sound returns me to the here and now: the practice arena in the Palladium.

"Sorry," I say.

Aiden says, "No worries you have a lot on your mind. Let's get in some practice before Sentius and the other students get here."

I grab my Co and meet Aiden. I defend his thrusts easily. Aiden and I have practiced together many times; I own him. My footwork is now exceptional and with my superior Ki, these days it's not even close. Aiden is never bummed out about losing. I will never meet a boy like this ever again. I knock the Coout of his hands.

Aiden says, "Break time."

Aiden hands me a glass of water and gets another for himself. Aiden and I sit side by side on the bench.

"Mom was pregnant when she clacked," I say.

Aiden says, "Your mother is pregnant now, that's for sure. Why else would Atticus bring her out to meet you? My guess is he was deciding if he had to tell you she is the Gravidarum or if just showing you a miner who is forced to live in the mine would be enough. If you hadn't agreed to help he would have told you that Jana was the Gravidarum."

"I was always talking about going back home and my mother is right here. In fact, the first night on Saffire I was right beside her the whole time."

Aiden says, "More irony: she would not even know you were her daughter if you told her."

"I'm not sure how'd she'd react."

Aiden says, "You are a total stranger to her."

"I've got to get her out of that mine."

Aiden lies on the bench and looks up at the ceiling, "Things get even more complicated."

"Mom is carrying the only child to be born on Saffire. The one to save the planet. How much more complicated can it get?"