Variance Page 4

  Lily tugged on Statice’s elbow. “Is it my turn yet?”

  Statice nodded.

  “I would like to introduce to you Siren.” Lily summoned something that blinded Paul in an orange glow. With a translucent light orange body, Siren descended upon them.

  “Hello. My name is Siren, creation of Lily Benedict. How may I be of assistance?”

  As Siren drew closer, Paul kept his eyes on Siren’s sharp orange eyes and away from her voluptuous naked body. “She’s allowed to have clothes, right?”

  Amaryllis narrowed her eyes at him. He shrugged.

  Lily waved her hand. “It was preprogrammed.”

  “Let’s test it out.” Kaiser crossed his arms. “Get in there, Mr. Benedict.”

  “Dad, the suit will come to you once you link yourself with the interface.” Lily nudged Amaryllis, breaking her stare. “Mom?”

  Amaryllis stood in front of Paul. “By installing the Variance program into your Visuals, you will become one with the suit and Siren.” She smiled with tears in her eyes, which made him teary-eyed. She wiped her tears away. “Then it’s off to Xameeshee.” She hugged him tightly and held him for a solemn moment.

  She stood back and prompted a white virtual button in front of him. He selected the button and downloaded the Variance program into his brain. For only a second, his Visuals rebooted, and new interfaces appeared. Various gauges surrounded his peripheral view. A targeting system and a faint three-dimensional map dominated his direct view. Mechanical and chemical data appeared everywhere he looked. He could view everything from above, below, and behind without moving his head.

  Siren disbanded from shared Visuals and transferred to his personal view. The suit melted and clad his entire body with a thick layer of material. His helmet formed over his head, activating his new Variance battle interface with additional commands and flight controls. Statice guided everyone away from him, and a tutorial prompted for his attention.

  This is too much awesomeness to digest all at once.

  Siren hovered in front of him. “Basic control of this suit is very simple. Simply think of the action you wish to do, and state it, like everything else. For example, say or think, ‘I want to fly.’”

  He wanted to fly.

  “By what method?”

  Options appeared. He could be a helicopter, boat, small jet, or bird. He wanted to be a bird.

  Just as he mentally spoke the word bird, majestic wings appeared behind him. He wanted to hover a few meters off the ground, and he flew. The wind blew Amaryllis’s hair all around her. He laughed with joy, feeling a tickling sensation all over his body as he ascended farther away from the floor. His family cheered, while Kaiser remained wide-eyed.

  Paul soared around them. Changing the wings to turbines, he rocketed at the same speed. He imagined himself to be invisible.

  “Dad, where are you?” Lily scanned the area and used her Visuals to track him.

  He hovered above her upside down and reappeared. She screamed and giggled. He grounded himself and commanded the suit to rest. The suit melted away from him and consolidated into a sphere.

  His family deserved some love. He walked to them and gave them hugs and kisses. He wanted to celebrate with a special dinner.

  As loudly as he could, Kaiser cleared his throat. “Mr. Benedict, I hate to say this, but it’s time to go.”

  Paul held his family in disbelief. “Could I just spend dinner with my family before we leave?” He could tell by their immediate hunching that Statice’s and Lily’s hearts had sunk. “I’ve never been away from my family, not for more than a few days. Actually, it was exactly seventy-eight hours, thirteen minutes, and two seconds. I’m going to be gone for sixty-five days. That’s—”

  “I’m sorry, everyone.” Kaiser sighed. “We don’t have a second to lose.”

  The bay doors opened, and Kaiser’s ship entered the bay with a gentle hum. The same hatch that had caught Paul and Kaiser when they had leaped off the tree opened. Kaiser was serious. Paul departing from his family was serious. He was about to leave the planet.

  Restless, Paul wanted to brainstorm alternatives to stall, but judging by Kaiser’s stern look, he figured maybe it was best to say his farewells now.

  Amaryllis sent a drone into the ship to store a box with his belongings. “I wasn’t sure when you would be leaving, so I packed it yesterday. It has everything you need.”

  Paul wished she had not packed. The need to pack would have given him more time with them. He held her close, smelled her flowery fragrance, and savored her soft cheek against his. “Thank you, Amy. Thank you for everything. For being a wonderful wife and a gentle soul. I love you so much.”

  “I love you too, Paul. Please be safe.”

  They kissed. Nothing was better than her warmth and her embrace. “Be strong, my love, and be safe. Don’t worry about me.” He patted the sphere. “I’m in good hands.”

  Statice stood next to him and waited for her hug. “Take videos and data for me. I’d like to see Variance in action.”

  “I will. My requests are for you to look after your sister; help your mom, even if she initially refuses any help; and talk to each other. Keep each other smiling at all times.” He hugged Statice. He used to kneel to hug her. Now she stood as tall as Amaryllis. She even acted like her mom from time to time.

  He turned to Kaiser. “I will be able to communicate with my family, right?”

  “Depending on the situation when you arrive, I’m not sure. My colleague will do his best to accommodate you.” Kaiser’s eyes wandered with uncertainty.

  Lily stood apart from the others, distant.

  Paul walked over to her, and she burst into tears. He knelt down and embraced her. Utopians expressed love and joy with tears. However, her tears were different.

  “Will Siren be funny like you?” He wiped her cheek.

  “No.” She grinned. “Only I’m allowed to be funny like me.”

  “Your sister has proven to be a woman to be proud of. Therefore, you’ll forever be my little princess.” He gave her a hug, the type that made everything felt right, in which he could feel hear heartbeat. “I know you’ll do great things to ensure our survival while I’m gone. Don’t give up on yourself, Statice, or your mom. You have always made me proud.” He put out his fist. “Hot potato.”

  She bumped it. “Hot potato.” Her eyes glistened with tears.

  He stood up and summoned Variance into the ship. The sphere rolled and then leaped in through the hatch. He approached Kaiser, who stood stoically and silently.

  “Thank you very much for this opportunity, for saving me, for removing our banishment, and for supporting my family. I will protect our legacy.”

  “It is an honor to have met you, Mr. Benedict. The Utopian people will come to know the greatness of the Benedict family for all eternity. I’ll help Lily find extra brains to make new suits and ensure the safety of your family. I’ll do whatever it takes. Also, I will contact you when it’s safe. I don’t want to ping your location to any nearby Crimson spaceships or Kazat military. Once you reach fifteen days of flight, it will be harder to communicate.” In Kaiser’s monotone voice, Paul detected either doubt or sincerity. “Lastly, when you see Shadow, just remember who you are.”

  Paul wasn’t sure what Kaiser meant by that. “Thank you, Father. I will.”

  Kaiser hugged him, and they patted each other on the back.

  Paul turned and stared at the ship for a moment. Was he forgetting anything else? Was he truly ready? His meters appeared normal. His family had tested the suit multiple times. If they thought it was ready, then it was ready. He still had to work on his brain-training exercises since he’d maintained a substandard performance. Maybe he could improve during his flight.

  He stepped toward the ship’s hatch. “Take care, everyone. We’ll be together soon. I love you all.”


  His family showered his Visuals with messages of love and affection. Amaryllis held in her sobs. He knew that remaining tear-free took all her energy. She would probably cry all night. Statice jumped up and down while waving. He knew she was probably distracting herself from her emotions. Lily’s eyes were full of tears, which she kept wiping away.

  As Paul entered the ship, the black liquid covered his body and positioned him in the center of the vessel. A web of liquid secured Variance next to him. The interior displayed the bay around him.

  Tilting his head to look back at his family one last time, he stopped. This would not be the last time he would see them. He aimed his eyes forward, and the ship flew on autopilot, heading for Xameeshee.

  The engines vibrated the ship for a few seconds and turned toward Sol’s blinding light. He exited his tree, only to find Crimson scouts destroying his forest. A rush of evacuation alarms flooded his Visuals.

  Trails of smoke stretched for kilometers. Paul squirmed in his locked position. “No. We have to turn back.”

  Confused, Siren shifted her gaze back and forth between the tree and space. “I’m sorry.”

  The ship rocketed Paul into the sky, the forest shrinking in view below them. He screamed and again asked the ship to return. The fear of leaving his family vulnerable and flying into space with no control overwhelmed him. For the first time in his life, he clenched his fists, and tears of anger flew away from his face.

  3

  Endeavor

  PAUL ASSUMED KAISER KNEW that Crimson had entered his forest. That must have been why Kaiser had sent him away in haste. If Kaiser had warned him, he might have stayed behind.

  Everything will be all right. He will protect them, right? He took deep breaths.

  For the first time, Paul experienced a grumbling stomach. His stomach churned and croaked. His new Visuals alerted him to eat to maintain combat efficiency. Worrying about his family’s safety, departing from his planet, and seeing the gravitational moons up close made him hungry. He decided he should check his travel box.

  He manipulated the magnetic field holding him in position and floated within the ship’s display of space. The Variance sphere and the box gave him reference to the floor. He approached the box and removed the black webbing. He held the box in both hands, and the lid unsealed itself. Cubes of liquid-polymer clothes, food boxes, and other items flew out and dispersed. One object slightly damaged the display above him.

  A food box flew behind him, and he grabbed it. If the travel box were pressurized because of the difference in cabin pressure, most likely, his food would disperse too. A tentacle extending from his suit held on to the box, and he flew to the opposite end. He directed the tentacle to open the box.

  Wait a second. Safety first. He created a face shield. Again, he directed the tentacle to open the box.

  Warm noodles and tomato sauce ejected toward him. He removed the shield and flew toward the food with an open mouth. He ate and savored the sweet sauce. Food had never tasted so good. Hopefully, his hunger cycles would not outpace his supply. He wanted to eat another box.

  A bouquet of fresh flowers bumped into him. Lily had handpicked them and tied them together with grass. She loved the botanical gardens found in every tree. However, the best ones were outside on the forest common grounds. She must have sneaked away from working on Siren to make the bouquet. Enjoying the soothing aroma, Paul snapped video and added words of love.

  Another object caught his attention. He flew over to a wood-like polymer picture frame, which held a printed photograph of his family. Paul had taken it fifty years ago, when Lily, standing a few centimeters under Statice, was only three years old. Amaryllis’s gentle smile never failed to captivate him.

  Now he was a brave and courageous man of the universe, on his way to save the world. The hero of Utopians. Variance Man. He will save the day from evil and restore justice. Justice will be served. He posed as if he stood tall with his hands on his hips, even though he floated aimlessly.

  A message from Statice appeared on his Visuals. Time-delivered, the message allowed him to access its contents. It was a meal schedule with a note. “Mom wanted to cook, but I convinced her to let me try. I hope you enjoy your space meals. They are made to last thirty days, with natural and healthy preservatives that will help curb your hunger. I love you, Dad. Please be safe.”

  His family gave him so much joy and love. He had to protect that happiness.

  Using Variance, he returned all the objects to the container. His view of space was clear again. He took videos and photos with astronomy info for his family to see. Sol glowed a healthy orange. Crimson’s dark atmosphere blended with the backdrop of space. Prism shined brighter than any other object. Daytime on Xameeshee must be beautiful, he thought, seeing a diamond planet and its crystalline surface up close. Sapphire’s green world was home to ten trillion Utopians preparing for departure to other solar systems throughout the Milky Way.

  Then there was the blue Azure.

  Paul’s nose tingled as clear mucous dripped out of his nostril. He wiped it off with his sleeve. The sleeve absorbed the mucous and sanitized his hand. It felt disgusting to wipe the fluid on his clothes, but the method worked.

  Time to get busy.

  Hundreds of virtual cylindrical tubes appeared around him with green liquid rising to the top at different rates. Permitted to use his hands, he sorted all the tubes based on similar rates and tapped the tubes at or slightly above the fill line for them to vanish. His quick-scanning eyes allowed him to move and cross his arms at fast and accurate speeds, like a music conductor in hyperdrive. Small beads of sweat lined his forehead. He handled the exercise down to the last tube until he coughed and sneezed. The tube filled and tipped over on its own.

  He’d almost had it. Am I ever going to get this right? He sighed and terminated the interface.

  Siren appeared and hovered beside him. Her glow was the brightest object in the vessel. Could she dim her appearance?

  She dimmed and took on the image of a human, wearing an Azurian bodysuit. “Is this better?”

  Her appearance resembled the features of Amaryllis.

  “Of course, I suppose.”

  “I’m sorry if I look like Amaryllis. I thought her appearance would be the most appropriate, as opposed to taking on the image of your daughters. I could try on a different look.”

  “No, that would be—”

  Siren changed her features. Her wavy brunette hair remained immobile when she moved. “What shall we learn today?”

  He wanted to take a break from his exercises. “Shadow. Let’s learn about Shadow.” He opened up a message sent from Kaiser’s colleague.

  The message read,

  Shadow was a Divine Might fighter intent upon destroying Forever Spring. He expressed his anti-Utopian mission at every match, declaring that he would one day end the satanic race. He climbed his way to the top and became the champion. That’s when a Crimson scout made first contact with humans.

  Leaders of the planet negotiated a deal with the scout through Divine Might, pitting Shadow against the scout in a death match. Shadow won for Xameeshee. Now he is the game master of Divine Might and, in turn, a man with interplanetary control and influence. Signs of movement toward the Utopian extinction appeared frequently. It was only a matter of time until he commenced the first nuclear strike.

  Wow. Paul scratched his head. This man wanted to end an entire race, and Paul needed to talk to him about peace.

  “You two have something in common.” Pretending she was floating in space, Siren spread her hair in microgravity. “Both of you are fighting for justice in your own ways. If you mention that you too could fight your way to the top to change the world for the better, maybe he might entertain the thought with every intent to make sure you die.” She smiled.

  What was she thinking? “Siren, why would you say tha
t?”

  “I’m just calculating the most likely outcome of our meeting based on the limited information that we currently have.”

  “Oh. Well, all right. Makes sense.” He moved the message aside and found a video file titled “Divine Might Commercial.” The file’s preview image showed stills of fire.

  What is a commercial?

  The words Divine Might flew across from him in big, bold letters. Tubas with deep bass and timpani drums boomed and rocked his eardrums. Serious, rugged men, women, and children stood next to their battle suits. Divided crowds wearing blue, red, and yellow lined a massive, circular stadium large enough to fit a forest of at least fifteen trees. They hollered and screamed with painted faces, waving flags. Terraformers erected a transparent energized dome within the stadium and turned the grass field into a chaotic region of floating earth and streaming magma. Strands of lightning sizzled everywhere, joined by bright and loud booms of energy. Rotating winds collided with the magma to form lava tornadoes.

  “With Variance, your survivability is still low.” Siren pointed at the tornadoes, nodding approvingly.

  What? Low?

  Scenes of explosions and combat replaced the view of the arena. A fighter using a Frequency suit, a tall and bubbly mechanized machine consisting of millions of tiny, reflective armored lenses, glowed bright white and emitted multiple beams. The beams penetrated a taller, heavily weaponized armored mechanical suit known as Legacy. The Legacy fighter retaliated with hundreds of rockets and streams of blazing projectiles.

  Following behind the Legacy fighter, a Controller fighter launched dozens of rectangular drones in offensive and defensive formations off its egg-shaped platform. The drones protected the Legacy fighter and added firepower, obliterating the Frequency fighter under a cloud of smoke.

  The scene switched to two Abstract fighters engaged in close combat. They were the size of Variance, and like Variance, they used majestic wing blades. The blades interlocked, re-formed, and countered at all angles. The duel resembled a hyperspeed version of chess, in addition to the opponents fighting off projectiles, lasers, and rocket blasts.